Experimental study of particle separation using fluidised bed method

Particle separation is an important stage in industry, especially in chemical and mineral industry. Some common methods in separation are filtration, gravitation and centrifugal (cyclone). A new method of separation, namely fluidized bed, needs to be explored because it produces low pressure drop and high efficiency. Experiment was performed using bio-solar (diesel fuel) as fluid and silica gel with radius 0.8 mm and 3 mm as solid particle. The goal of experiment is obtaining maximum separation of small particle (0.8 mm) and maintaining minimum separation for big particle (3 mm). Fluid velocity is ranging from 0.034 – 0.118 m/s where the slowest velocity is still above minimum fluidization velocity for small particle, and the maximum velocity is still smaller than terminal velocity of big particle. There are 3 (tree) outlet height of fluidized bed, namely: 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 meter. According experiment result, the increase of velocity will slightly increase pressure drop but it highly increases separation percentage. An optimum separation occurs on velocity of 0.118 m/s and outlet 0.9 meter where separation efficiency of small particle as high as 98 percent and big particle separation is less than 2 percent.