A New Model for Pressure Drop Correction for Series-Arranged Misaligned Monoliths

Abstract

This study presents a new model to predict the additional pressure drop for series-arranged misaligned monoliths, relevant for high-flow industrial applications. Long reactor tubes often contain multiple short monoliths, leading to extra pressure drops as the flow enters and leaves multiple monoliths. Existing models address aligned monoliths, but this research considers misalignment, where extra pressure drop is higher. Channel Reynolds from 50 to 320, spacings from 0.1 to 20 channel diameters, and several void fractions are investigated using a discrete channel model. Results indicate a significant impact of misalignment on extra pressure drops in closely spaced monoliths due to flow collisions. A correction factor model that adapts to misalignment is proposed, starting from large values for closely spaced channels and decreasing as spacing increases. The proposed model aligns with discrete channel data and phenomenological behavior of aligned channels both in trend and magnitude, showing an R2 above 0.93.