Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger | OperatiX – 03
The Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger OperatiX – 03 gives students visual insight into air flow through packed and fluidized beds. This Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger features a glass reactor chamber with an electrical heater, air distributor, and dual rotameters for flow measurement. It includes four grades of Fused Alumina bed material for fluidization and heat transfer studies. Optional DAQ software enables measurement and calculation of results.
The Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger OperatiX – 03 gives students a visual understanding of air flow through both packed and fluidized beds of granular material. This Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger contains bed material in a glass container fitted with an electrical heater. It uses air as the fluidizing medium, supported by an air distributor-equipped distribution chamber.
Product Overview
The process of crystallization is typically used to clean up substances so that the components of a solution may be separated. To crystallize a solute, a solution must achieve a supersaturated state. A substance, referred to as a solute, must be dissolved in a solution to the point where the solution is unable to dissolve any more solute. To create a supersaturated solution, one of several techniques can be employed.
For students to have a visual knowledge of the flow of air through both a packed and a fluidized bed of granular material, the Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Transfer Unit has been created. The bed material is primarily contained in a glass container inside of which is an electrical heater. The chamber has an air distributor-equipped distribution chamber. For the measurements of temperature, pressure, and flow rate, instruments are available. The fluidizing medium in the device is air.
A glass cylinder with a bed of a selected granular substance makes up the Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger. A distributor chamber with an air distributor supports the bed material at the bottom end of the glass chamber. The air distributor minimizes pressure loss while maintaining a consistent airflow into the bed. For student projects and other research, a self-designed distributor can take the place of the distributor. Air exits the bed through an air filter, travels through the chamber, and then leaves the bed. The brackets attached on the panel are used to suspend the chamber, filter, and distributor assembly.
Before entering the distribution chamber, air from the nearby compressed air supply is routed through a filter/pressure regulator, airflow rotameters, and air flow control valves. The heater input power is shown on the control panel, and a variable transformer is supplied for controlling the heating power. A thermocouple is installed on the heating element to measure the surface temperature of the heater. Digital readouts of each relevant temperature are shown on the control panel. A manometer with liquid inside of it measures the pressure decrease at any point along the bed. Additionally, the chamber is equipped with a pressure relief device that releases air into the atmosphere whenever the chamber’s pressure rises above the permitted level. The bed material can be simply changed according to the unit’s architecture. The unit comes with four grades of Fused Alumina (Aluminum Oxide) loose grains that can be utilized for a variety of fluidization and heat transfer investigations.
Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger OperatiX – 03, Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chamber | Glass chamber containing the bed material and an electrical heater for heat transfer studies |
| Reactor Chamber | Glass, fitted with distribution chamber, air distributor, air filter, electrical heater, temperature sensors, and pressure drop measuring probe |
| Air Flow Adjustment | Manual, using a valve and flow meter |
| Measurement Tools | Steel rulers for determining fluidized bed height and heating element immersion depth |
| Study Focus | Investigation of fluidized bed formation and fluidized bed heat transfer |
| Fluidizing Medium | Fluidized bed of aluminum oxide and compressed air |
| Sensors | Digital indicators for heater temperature, air inlet in fluidized bed, pressure gauge upstream of reactor and in fluidized bed, rotameter for air flow rate and heater power |
| Safety | Safety valve, temperature cutoff at the heater, air filter at the outlet |
Technical Data
Reactor Chamber
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass |
| Capacity | 3L |
Electrical Heater
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | 250 W |
| Surface Area | 22.8 cm² |
| Safety | High temp cut-off by means of a temperature controller |
Flow Meters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Two rotameters installed for high and low air flow measurement |
| Low Flow | 0.25~2.5 m³/h @ 1 atm |
| High Flow | 0.8~8 m³/h @ 1 atm |
Manometers
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To measure the pressure drop through bed |
| Range | 400 mm H2O |
| Quantity | 2 |
Digital Displays
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Function | To indicate temperature and heater power measurement |
Safety Features
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical Protection | Electrical components are properly fused and earthed |
General Requirements
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Compressed Air | 200 LPM |
| Pressure | 0 to 10 bar |
Key Features
- Reactor Chamber: glass, 3L capacity
- Electrical Heater: 250W, 22.8 cm² surface area, high temp cut-off at 150°C
- Flow Measurement: two rotameters, low flow 0.25~2.5 m³/h and high flow 0.8~8 m³/h
- Pressure Measurement: 2 manometers, range 400 mm H2O
- Bed Material: four grades of Fused Alumina (Aluminum Oxide) loose grains included
- Air Distribution: air distributor minimizes pressure loss for consistent airflow into the bed
- Safety: safety valve, temperature cutoff at heater, air filter at outlet
- Digital Readouts: temperature and heater power displayed on control panel
- Fluidization Study: demonstrates packed and fluidized bed behavior on this Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger
- Software: optional DAQ software for measurement and calculation
Experiments
- The unit is suitable for students’ experiments on the characteristic of air flow through a fixed bed and fluidized bed
- To study the behavior of a fluidized bed for various types of granular materials
- To study the changes of pressure drop as a function of air flow for a variety of granular materials, both as packed and fluidized beds
- To study the effect of superficial velocity, immersion depth, and particle size on the surface heat transfer coefficient for a hot surface in a fluidized bed
- To study the effect of distributor design on the bed behavior
Construction and Design
The Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger OperatiX – 03 incorporates a glass chamber containing the bed material and an electrical heater for heat transfer studies. The reactor chamber, made of glass with a 3L capacity, is fitted with a distribution chamber, air distributor, air filter, electrical heater, temperature sensors, and a pressure drop measuring probe. A distributor chamber with an air distributor supports the bed material at the bottom end of the glass chamber, minimizing pressure loss while maintaining consistent airflow. Air exits the bed through an air filter before leaving the chamber. The electrical heater is rated at 250W with a 22.8 cm² surface area and a high temperature cut-off set to 150°C. Two rotameters measure low flow (0.25 to 2.5 m³/h) and high flow (0.8 to 8 m³/h) air rates. Two manometers, ranged to 400 mm H2O, measure pressure drop through the bed. Steel rulers determine the fluidized bed’s height and the heating element’s immersion depth. A pressure relief device releases air into the atmosphere if chamber pressure rises above the permitted level. The unit comes with four grades of Fused Alumina (Aluminum Oxide) loose grains for fluidization and heat transfer investigations.
Software
Software OperatiX – 03 (optional). DAQ software specially designed in National Instrument™, LABVIEW™ environment to measure and calculate the results of the apparatus. The software is optional; a set of electronic sensors is included when the software is used. The software can be run in any Windows™ environment.
Scope of Delivery
- 1 Experimental unit
- 1 Instruction manual
Q: What is the Fluidization and Fluid Bed Heat Exchanger OperatiX – 03 used for?
A: It is used for student experiments on air flow characteristics through fixed and fluidized beds, and for studying fluidized bed heat transfer.
Q: What bed material is included with the unit?
A: The unit comes with four grades of Fused Alumina (Aluminum Oxide) loose grains for fluidization and heat transfer investigations.
Q: What is the power rating of the electrical heater?
A: The electrical heater is rated at 250W, with a surface area of 22.8 cm² and a high temperature cut-off set to 150°C.
Q: How is pressure drop measured in the bed?
A: Pressure drop is measured using 2 manometers with a range of 400 mm H2O.
Q: Is data acquisition software available with this system?
A: Yes, Software OperatiX – 03 is available as an optional add-on, designed in National Instrument™ LABVIEW™ environment, and can run in any Windows™ environment.
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