Bubble scale

D. J. Durian. Bubble-scale model of foam mechanics Melting nonlinear behavior and avalanches. Phys. Rev. E 55,1739-1751 (1997). 

Scales are sensitive to force appHed in one direction only, eg, a scale with a horizontal platform is sensitive to forces appHed perpendicular to the platform. Scales should be leveled before calibration and whenever they are moved portable scales generally have a bubble level to facilitate leveling. 

The turbulent fluidized bed has a similar or slightly lower soHds volume fraction than the vigorously bubbling bed. There is considerable transport of soHds out of the turbulent bed and the bed level is not very distinct. Large-scale cyclones are needed to return soHds to the bed. On average, the bed inventory passes through the cyclones several times per hour. 

Fig. 23. Turbulent and bubbling beds scale-up comparison where increasing gas velocity, fines content, and JT/D staging can help maintain reactor efficiency as the reactor diameter increases. A 100% efficiency is equivalent to plug flow.

Viscosity can also be determined from the rising rate of an air bubble through a Hquid. This simple technique is widely used for routine viscosity measurements of Newtonian fluids. A bubble tube viscometer consists of a glass tube of a certain size to which Hquid is added until a small air space remains at the top. The tube is then capped. When it is inverted, the air bubble rises through the Hquid. The rise time in seconds may be taken as a measure of viscosity, or an approximate viscosity in mm /s may be calculated from it. In an older method that is commonly used, the rate of rise is matched to that of a member of a series of standards, eg, with that of the Gardner-Holdt bubble tubes. Unfortunately, this technique employs a nonlinear scale of letter designations and may be difficult to interpret. 

Mercury thermometers are subject to separation of the mercury column or to inclusion of bubbles of the fiU gas. These may result from shipping and handling and cause a scale offset which can usually be seen upon visual examination, and they are always recogni2ed by a 0°C verification check. Manufacturers will suggest means by which these temporary defects may be cured. 

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