FM-202.01 Fuidized Bed Heat Transfer

The Fluidized Bed Heat Transfer Unit has been designed to provide visual and quantitative results related to the flow of air through both a packed and fluidized bed of granular material contained in a vertical glass cylinder. At the lower end of this is a distribution chamber and air distributor which supports the bed when fluidized. Probes for temperature and pressure measurement, and a horizontal cylindrical heater, can all be moved vertically to any level in the bed Chamber. Air from a local compressed air supply is delivered through a filter/pressure regulator, an air flow meter fitted with a control valve and an orifice plate (to measure higher flow rates), to the distribution chamber. When in use, the heat transfer rate from the heater is adjusted by a manual electronic control, and digitally displayed. Two thermocouples are embedded in the surface of the element. One of these indicates the surface temperature, and the other, in conjunction with a controller, prevents the heater surface temperature exceeding a set value (up to 200°C). A digital temperature indicator with a selector displays the temperatures of the element, the air supplied to the distributor, and the moveable probe in the bed chamber. Two liquid filled manometers are fitted. One displays the pressure of the air at any level in the bed chamber, and the other displays the orifice differential pressure, from which the higher air flow rates can be determined. Four grades of Fused Alumina (Aluminum Oxide) Loose Grain are supplied with the unit and these are suitable for a wide range of fluidization and heat transfer experiments. An important feature of this unit is the ease with which the bed material may be changed. The unit can be in operation again in two or three minutes.

Experimental Capabilities

• Observation of the behavior in fluidized bed of a wide range of granular materials, from onset of fluidization to entrainment.
• Measurement of air flow and pressure drop through a variety of granular materials, as packed and as fluidized beds.
• Investigation of the effect of distributor design on bed behavior.
• Investigation of the effect of Superficial velocity; depth of immersion; particle size on the surface heat transfer coefficient for a hot surface in a fluidized bed.
• Demonstration of separation by particle size and density.
• 1 Manual.
• 1 Experimental Unit.z