Experimental hydrodynamic and bed characteristics of co-current gas-liquid-solid three phase semifluidization with liquid as the continuous phase

Abstract

In this study, hydrodynamic parameters such as minimum liquid phase fluidization velocity ${(U}_{\mathit{lmf}}),$ semifluidization velocity${(U}_{\mathit{sfm}}),$ pressure drop $(\Delta P),$ and height of top packed bed formation of a co-current gas-liquid -solid multiphase semifluidized bed were studied using the liquid as the continuous phase and air as the dispersed phase. Air, water, and acrylic beads of various sizes were used to represent the gas, liquid, and solid phases, respectively. The experiments were conducted in a vertical perspex column. The liquid and gas was co-currently fed into the column with varying flow rate. The column has three sections comprising of gas-liquid release section, main section, and gas-liquid distributor section, respectively. The significant outcomes of this study are reduced minimum fluidization velocity ranging from 0.004 to 0.01 m/s and minimum semifluidization velocity of 0.032–0.006 m/s compared to reported high values. Maximum bed pressure drop was found to be 5.6 kPa. Empirical mathematical correlations that represent the hydrodynamic and bed characteristics were developed from the experimental data which are also a new aspect of this study. Model results fitted well to the experimental values and the values obtained are quite useful for the various industrial application.

Keywords:

• Three phase semifluidized bed
• hydrodynamic parameters
• pressure drop
• packed bed
• multiphase flow

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, India and Curtin University, Australia for providing all research instruments and financial support to carry out this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, India and Curtin University, Australia.