A three-dimensional model for simulating the maldistribution of liquid flow in random packed beds

M. Song*, F. H. Yin, K. Nandakumar, K. T. Chuang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hydrodynamic characteristics of liquid flow in a packed column are studied using model equations that are based on the volume average concept. The objective is to track variations in flow rates (or maldistributions) on a scale smaller than the equipment scale, but larger than the scale of the packing. Such models remain valid on a wide range of scales. Once a number of parameters such as voidage and permeability are determined, the model could be used for scale up purpose. We present the results of two and three-dimensional simulationhsing a computational fluid dynamics solver. For several different inlet distributions, the developing of flow patterns and the formtionof the natural flow patterns near the wall are simulated. The simulation results on wall flow patterns are in reasonably good agreement with published experimental data.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-166
Number of pages6
JournalCanadian Journal of Chemical Engineering
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1998
Externally publishedYes

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