A packed bed of solid particles of density 2500 kg/m3, occupies a depth of 1 m in a
vessel of cross-sectional area 0.04 m2. The mass of solids in the bed is 50 kg and the
surface-volume mean diameter of the particles is 1 mm. A liquid of density 800 kg/m3
and viscosity 0.002 Pas flows upwards through the bed.
(a) Calculate the voidage (volume fraction occupied by voids) of the bed.
(b) Calculate the pressure drop across the bed when the volume flow rate of liquid is
1.44 m3/h.
(c) Calculate the pressure drop across the bed when it becomes fluidized.