Gas flow patterns in packed beds: A computational fluid dynamics model for wholly packed domains

Abstract

This paper describes a general numerical technique for modelling three-dimensional, single-phase gas flow patterns in packed beds. Specifically, it presents a method for implementing a vectorial form of the well-known Ergun equation in a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package. The approach is validated by comparison with independent experimental results. The general approach can be used to model flow patterns in adsorbers, catalytic reactors, etc., thus forming a useful design tool whereby packed bed configurations can be designed for minimum pressure drop while avoiding gas maldistribution.