Flow through particle layers is widely encountered in process engineering. In reactors, fixed and fluidised beds are subjected to through-flow by liquids and gases. The separation of solids from suspensions by cake and depth filtration is another area of application.
With the fluid mechanic principles involved in flow through fixed beds and fluidised beds can be investigated. For the purpose, a fillable test tank made of glass is provided, through which water can be made to flow from both ends. A sintered-metal plate serves as the base for bulk solids.
Water from the laboratory water connection flows into the test tank. To investigate flow through fixed beds, the water enters the test tank from the top. It flows through the fixed bed and the sintered-metal plate and passes by way of a distributor to the outlet.
Learning Objectives and Experiments
- Learning the fundamentals of flow through fixed beds and fluidised beds (Darcy)
- Observation of the fluidisation process
- Pressure loss dependent on the flow rate, type, particle size and height of the bulk solid
- Determination of the fluidisation velocity and comparison with theoretically calculated values
- Verification of Carman-Kozeny equation
Features
- Experiments in the fundamentals of fluid mechanics on particle layers
- Flow through fixed beds
- Flow through fluidised beds
- Pressure loss in fixed beds and fluidised beds
Specification
- Investigation of the properties of fixed and fluidised beds subjected to liquid flow
- Glass test tank with sintered filter medium on its base
- Test tank removable for filling
- Downward flow to investigate fixed beds
- Upward flow to investigate fluidised beds
- Flow meter with valve for adjustment
- 2 manometers with differing measuring ranges to measure pressure loss through the test tank
- Steel rule to measure the height of the fixed or fluidised bed
Technical data
- Test Tank
- Length: 510mm
- Inner Diameter: Approx. 37mm
- Material: DURAN Glass
- Filter Medium
- Thickness: 2mm
- Material: Sintered Metal
- Expansion Tank
- Capacity: Approx. 4500ml
- Material: PVC
Measuring Ranges
- Flow Rate: 82…820ml/Min
- Differential Pressure:
- 2x 0…500mmwc
- 1x 0…250mbar
- Height: 10…500mm
