Experiments 1 and 2 - Replicates of the Previous Fluidized Bed Experiments

Parameters:

For both Experiment 1 and Experiment 2, the [general procedure] had been followed using specific parameters. The parameters used in each experiment are listed and compared below:

Results and Discussion:

Data from both experiments were analyzed using the method outlined below:
For each sand grain size, the experiment was run for a certain amount of time, throughout which it completed several data collection periods. Each data collection period ("run") represents a time period during which the water level in bubble collector gradually falls down from its maximum to the set minimum point. In Figure 1. and Figure 2. this period is represented on the graph when the line slants downward. Once the minimum water level is reached, the bubble collector has to refill with water in order to continue the runs. For this reason, the water outflow valve is closed until the water level reaches the set maximum point. This period is represented on the graph by the vertical lines. More detailed information on the bubble collector setup can be found here.
Once the change in water level in the bubble collector was recorded, we added the linear fit line to each of the runs to see the rate of change of the water level inside the bubble collector with respect to time. Figure 3. and Figure 4. show the linear fit line for the second data collection period in both experiments, and more detailed graphs can also can be found here.
The value of the linear fit is very close to 1, indicating that the data can be modeled accurately using a linear relationship. Once the slope of the fitted line was known, we calculated the content of gas removed per liter of water sent through the sand filter using the formulas:

where the radius of the bubble column was 1.9 cm.

The calculations for the amount of gas removed during each data collection periods gave us the results summarized in Table 2 and Table 3 below: