On the Modeling of Flow in Packed Bed Systems

Abstract

Modeling of flow and its impact on transport phenomena in packed bed systems is discussed. A detailed flow model based on an improved Brinkman equation has been derived and its solution is presented. This model incorporates a representative voidage function that enabled the generation of velocity profiles that closely followed the voidage profile and highlighted the importance of the wall zone. Two approximate flow models from the literature have been used to obtain velocity profiles for the purpose of comparison with the model derived herein. Significant differences were observed in the location and magnitude of velocity maxima predicted by the various models employed in this work. The impact of such findings on transport phenomena is discussed. A method to obtain a wall zone velocity is suggested to facilitate estimation of transport parameters near the wall.