College

College of Engineering and Polymer Science

Date of Last Revision

2023-05-04 19:47:11

Major

Chemical Engineering

Honors Course

4200:497

Number of Credits

2

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2021

Abstract

Correlations were developed between the Modified Ergun’s and Hindered settling correlations under the condition of dense packing of particles in the bed. As the porosity of the slurry increases, so does the interference between particles in the solution which mimics the behavior of a packed or densely concentrated fluidized bed. The similarity between the two sets of conditions was modeled using mathematical equations to calculate settling velocities and pressure drops by means of the Hindered Settling correlations and Modified Ergun’s equation at porosities ranging from 0.4242 to 0.89. The results showed that a porosity of 0.52 and 0.009 ft particle diameter yielded results with a 0.3% deviation. However, as porosity was held constant and particle size was manipulated, the modified Ergun’s equation and hindered settling correlations produced direct and indirect relationships with particle size respectively. This disproved the hypothesis that the equations would produce similar results for particle velocity at a constant porosity. An experiment was designed by 3-D printing arrays of particles with porosities of 0.4242, 0.52, and 0.69 and compared to the theory. The results match theoretical expectations, and the measured values varied from theory by 29.9%, -3.03%, and -31.2% for porosities of 0.4242, 0.52, and 0.69, respectively.

Research Sponsor

Dr. George Chase

First Reader

Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby

Second Reader

Dr. David Bastidas

Honors Faculty Advisor

Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby

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