Packed Beds Research Articles

A Critical Review on Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Wire Screen Matrix Packed Solar Air Heaters

Solar air heaters (SAHs) have an important role in applications such as spaceheating and industrial drying worldwide. The packing of SAH bed not onlyincreases the heat transfer area but also increases the pumping power lossesthereby limiting the thermo-hydraulic performance. In the present study,efforts have been made for a critical assessment of the literature dealingwith the impact of collector bed and operating parameters over thermal andthermo-hydraulic performance for different configurations of wire screenmatrix packed SAH. The porosity of bed and mass flow rate of the air have amajor influence on the thermo-hydraulic performance of wire screen matrixpacked SAH. It is found that the enhancement in the volumetric heat transfercoefficient due to a decrease in bed porosity is obtained at the expense ofincrease in pumping power which ultimately affects the thermo-hydraulicperformance of wire screen matrix packed SAH. In general it is observedthat porosity is an important parameter that affects the thermo-hydraulic performance. It is seen that matrix having porosity 0.937 yields thermo-hydraulic performance of 68% at mass flow rate 0.023 kg/s where as for thesame mass flow rate porosity of 0.887 results thermo-hydraulic performanceof only 42%.

Updating Packed Fractionating Columns Using Mathematical Model of Multicomponent Mixture Separation

The scientific-engineering problem of mathematical modeling and calculation of separation of hydrocarbon mixtures in industrial columns with random and regular packings is solved. Multicomponent transfer is calculated using matrix of volume mass transfer coefficients and reverse-mixing (longitudinal mixing) of vapor and liquid streams is calculated using Peclet number with a reverse-mixing coefficient. The problem of development of variants of upgradation of oil-gas-condensate mixture stabilizing column in a refinery is discussed. The calculated concentration profiles of key components of the mixture are given. The required packing bed thickness is determined. The column operating conditions in the mixture load and composition range are stabilized after upgradation of the column with a new packing. Also solved is the problem of designing two industrial columns in the technological scheme of separation of benzene from stable condensate. The calculations enabled determination of the operating and design characteristics of the column using random Inzhekhim-2012 metallic packings. The results of materials balance calculation are presented and are compared with the column operation data.

Numerical Investigation of a Desiccant Packed Bed Performance

Numerical Investigation of a Desiccant Packed Bed Performance

Model study of carbonisation of low rank coal briquettes: Effect of briquettes shape

Carbonisation is a promising process to upgrade low rank coal briquettes to clean coal, where the shape of briquettes in the carbonisation reactors may be significantly different, including sphere, ellipsoid, cylinder, half-ellipsoid. However, the influence of briquette shape variation on carbonisation performance has not been studied. In the present study, an integrated numerical model is developed and applied to investigate the effect of briquette shape on carbonisation behaviour of low rank coal briquettes in a pilot-scale coke oven. This model integrates a DEM model to simulate packing structure evolution of briquettes in four different shapes; and a CFD model to simulate the carbonisation process. This model is validated against the experimental data. The simulation results indicate that briquettes with different shapes have different packing statuses during the carbonisation in terms of bed height and packing density. Specifically, the half-ellipsoidal and cylindrical briquettes show an upward trend of packing density during the carbonisation, which is opposite to ellipsoidal and spherical briquettes. Moreover, the half-ellipsoidal briquette bed shows the best carbonisation performance in comparison with other shapes of briquettes, as it has a more rapid bed temperature increasing rate and faster devolatilisation efficiency. This work is helpful to design proper briquettes and carbonisation operation for improving carbonisation efficiency in low rank coal upgrading.

From casting to 3D printing geopolymers: A proof of concept

The objective of this paper is to define a mix design strategy allowing the implementation of geopolymer in powder bed 3D printing. In a selective binder approach, an aluminosilicate powder bed is activated through the deposit of an alkaline silicate solution. We first show that, in comparison to casting, this technology requires mastering the spreading of the liquid into the powder bed to ensure that the reaction takes place where it is needed. A series of experiments at the drop level, mimicking the 3D printing process, were performed to determine the printing solution composition for a given powder bed packing. We then highlight the relationship between the compressive strength of the printed geopolymer and the powder bed saturation, controlled by the printing parameters. Finally, SEM/EDX analysis confirm the formation of geopolymer with desired Si/Al and Na/Al ratios in the resulting printed material.

Effect of packing structure on anisotropic effective thermal conductivity of thin ceramic pebble bed

Helium cooled solid breeder blanket as an important blanket candidate of the Tokamak fusion reactor uses ceramic pebble bed for tritium breeding. Considering the poor effective thermal conductivity of the ceramic breeder pebble bed, thin structure of tritium breeder pebble bed is usually adopted in the blanket design. The container wall has a great influence on the thin pebble bed packing structure, especially for the assembly of mono-sized particles, and thin pebble bed will appear anisotropic effective thermal conductivity phenomenon. In this paper, thin ceramic pebble beds composed of 1 mm diameter Li4SiO4 particles are generated by the EDEM 2.7. The effective thermal conductivity of different thickness pebble beds in the three-dimensional directions are analyzed by three-dimensional thermal network method. It is observed that thin Li4SiO4 pebble bed showing anisotropic effective thermal conductivity under the practical design size. Normally, the effective thermal conductivity along the bed vertical direction is higher than the horizontal direction due to the gravity effect. As the thickness increases from 10 mm to 40 mm, the effective thermal conductivity of the pebble bed gradually increases.

Effect of Filter Medium on the Enhancement of Complete Autotrophic Nitrogen Removal over Nitrite Process in a Tidal Flow Constructed Wetland

This study attempted to shorten the time wasted at the startup of a complete autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process in a tidal flow constructed wetland (TFCW) to achieve higher nitrogen removal rates. Thus, the starting performance and the related microbiological characteristics of different kinds of filter media filling the TFCW were explored at an appropriate drainage rate. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the filter medium could significantly affect the quantity and activity of the functional microbes (especially ANAMMOX bacteria) enriched in the TFCWs, leading to fluctuations of the starting time and nitrogen transformation rates of the systems filled with five different kinds of filter media. Compared with that of gravel, the quantity and activity of ANAMMOX bacteria in the bed could be enhanced to different degrees as the TFCW was filled with ceramsite, zeolite, broken bricks, and lobster shells. Correspondingly, the starting times of the TFCWs with the CANON process were shortened, and their nitrogen removal performances could also be optimized. When the hydraulic loading rate of the TFCW was 0.96 m3·(m2·d)-1, the initiation of the CANON process could be accomplished successfully in the system filled with lobster shells within 300 cycles, since AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria could become dominant quickly in the packing bed. Moreover, the TN and NH4+-N removal rates could reach up to (88.37±1.19)% and (91.03±0.66)%, respectively, followed by those of broken bricks, zeolite, ceramsite, and gravel.

Use of Bedding Materials in Beef Bedded Manure Packs in Hot and Cool Ambient Temperatures: Effects on Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

HighlightsLab-scale beef manure bedded packs were constructed to evaluate the temperature effect on gaseous emissions.Temperature had a tendency to increase ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and greenhouse gases in the headspace above bedded packs over time.Abstract. Throughout the Upper Midwest, producers have observed increased land and fertilizer prices, resulting in increased popularity of confinement feeding facilities such as mono-slope and hoop barns with bedded packs. Environmental and public pressure has been placed on the agriculture community to reduce ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). This study was conducted to determine the effects of bedding material (corn stover (CS), bean stover (BS), wheat straw (WS), or pine wood chips (PC)) and ambient temperature (15°C (COOL) or 30°C (HOT)) on NH3, CH4, CO2, N2O, and H2S flux in air samples collected in the headspace above lab-scale bedded packs. All bedded packs were housed at 18°C for an initial three weeks before being placed in their respective environmental chambers at 15°C or 30°C for the remainder of the 6-week study period. Significant two-way interactions of bedding material by temperature for NH3 flux were observed (p = 0.0094). Ammonia flux was greater at higher temperature, while CS bedding had the lowest NH3 emissions compared to the other bedding materials. A significant two-way interaction of bedding material by temperature for H2S flux was observed (p < 0.0001), with significantly greater H2S produced in the headspace of COOL-BS packs compared to all other treatments. Additionally, a significant (p = 0.0357) two-way interaction of temperature by age of the bedded pack was observed for H2S flux. Hydrogen sulfide flux appeared to be influenced by low bedded pack pH to a greater extent than by increase in temperature. Greenhouse gas emissions tended to be higher from bedded packs in HOT treatments. A significant (p = 0.0422) interaction among bedding material, temperature, and age of the bedded pack was observed for CH4. Significantly greater CH4 flux was observed in the headspace above HOT-BS and HOT-CS at week 6 compared to all other treatments. A significant two-way interaction of bedding material by temperature was observed for CO2 flux (p = 0.0189). The largest CO2 levels were observed above WS bedding material regardless of temperature. Nitrous oxide flux decreased over the 6-week study for all bedded packs, while WS and PC bedded packs produced the greatest N2O flux. The results indicate that feedlot operators maintaining bedded pack facilities will have the greatest reduction in NH3 emissions when using CS bedding, regardless of ambient temperature. To reduce CH4 emissions, producers should avoid allowing BS and CS bedded packs that are maintained for longer than six weeks in HOT (30°C) temperatures; frequent cleaning during summer months is recommended. Based on the CO2 equivalents of CH4 and N2O, producers should consider PC as an option to reduce GHG emissions. Keywords: Ammonia, Bedding age, Bedding type, Beef, Carbon dioxide, Greenhouse gas, Hydrogen sulfide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Temperature.

Use of Bedding Materials in Beef Bedded Manure Packs at Hot and Cold Ambient Temperatures: Effects on Odorous Volatile Organic Compounds and Odor Activity Values

HighlightsAromatic compounds generated 72.6% of the total odor activity values (OAVs) over time.Cold treatments had significantly lower total OAVs than hot treatments regardless of the age of the bedded pack.Abstract. Beef cattle producers are beginning to raise cattle in confinement facilities such as slatted-floor barns, hoop barns, and mono-slope facilities. Hoop and mono-slope facilities typically use bedding packs as part of their manure management system, with crop residues being the most commonly used bedding material. This study was conducted to determine the effects of bedding material, i.e., corn stover (CS), bean stover (BS), wheat straw (WS), or pine wood chips (PC), and environmental ambient temperature, i.e., cold (15°C) or hot (30°C), on the concentrations of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air samples collected in the headspace above lab-scale bedded packs over a 42-day period. Total aromatic compounds, sulfide compounds, straight-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) were measured and used to calculate total odor activity values (OAVs) for each bedding and temperature effect. No significant three-way interactions for bedding material × ambient temperature × age of bedded pack were observed. Significant bedding material × ambient temperature interactions were observed for total aromatic compounds and total sulfide compounds (p = 0.0455 and p = 0.0083, respectively). The concentration of total aromatic compounds was greater for all hot treatments compared to cold treatments, with hot-CS and hot-WS bedding types (389.83 and 365.5 ng L-1, respectively) significantly (p < 0.05) greater than all other bedding types, while total aromatic compounds were lowest (87.09 ng L-1) for BS across cold treatments. Total sulfide compounds from cold-PC (51.69 ng L-1) were significantly (p = 0.0143) greater than all other treatments. Within hot treatments, total sulfide compounds were similar across all bedding materials. Total SCFAs for both cold and hot treatments decreased significantly from weeks 4 to 6. Total SCFA concentrations within weeks were significantly (p < 0.0001) greater for WS and CS compared to BS and PC but similar across bedding materials at week 6. Total BCFA concentrations from bedded packs containing CS and WS were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher at week 4 compared to concentrations from bedded packs containing BS or PC. As bedded packs aged, total BCFA concentrations for all bedding materials were similar at week 6. Total OAVs decreased over time for both hot and cold treatments, although cold treatments had significantly (p < 0.0001) lower total OAVs regardless of the age of the bedded pack. Aromatic compounds generated 72.6% of the total OAV over the 42-day study. Bedding types BS and PC had the lowest total OAVs across all weeks. The results indicate that feedlot operators maintaining bedded pack facilities will achieve the greatest overall odor reduction when using BS or PC bedding material, no matter the ambient temperature. Keywords: Bedding, Beef, Odor, Volatile organic compounds.

Experimental Observation of a Regression Dependence for Hydrodynamic Performance of the Regular Packing

The investigational studies of regression dependence of the new efficient regular packing bed’s flow friction on gas velocity and liquid spray rate has been carried out. The tests were made by the procedure of a complete two-factor experiment. On account of experiment design matrix, there are four tests to be made to determine the regression dependence. It is found that the packing bed’s flow friction builds up along with increase of superficial gas velocity and liquid spray rate. The regression dependence that puts packing bed’s flow friction in touch with superficial gas velocity and liquid spray rate is procured. The specific dependence is valid for air velocity 1.21-3.12 m/sec and liquid spray rate 0.0080-0.0304 m3/(m2 sec). The conclusion on significance of regression dependencies has been made in terms of Student’s t-test. The sufficiency of regression equation has been inspected via the Fisher’s criterion. The resulting regression equation can be utilized in the design and engineering process of absorbers with the shock-spray packing.

Adsorber heat exchanger using Al-fumarate beads for heat-pump applications - a transport study.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), thanks to their type V water adsorption isotherms ("S-Shape") and large water capacities, are considered as potential breakthrough adsorbents for heat-pump applications. In particular, Al(OH)-fumarate could enable efficient regeneration at a lower temperature than silica-gel which would allow us to address the conversion of waste heat at low temperature such as found in data centers. Despite its greater adsorption capacity features, heat and mass transport limitations could jeopardize the potential performance of Al(OH)-fumarate. Heat and mass transport depend on the size of the bodies (mm range), their packing and on the pore structures, i.e. macro-mesopore volumes and sizes. This paper describes the cost-efficient and scalable synthesis and shaping processes of Al(OH)-fumarate beads of various sizes appropriate for use in water Adsorption Heat-Pumps (AHPs). The objective was to study transport limitations (i.e. mass and heat) in practical e beads which meet mechanical stability requirements. Dynamic data at the grain scale was obtained by the Large Temperature Jump method while dynamic data at the adsorber scale was obtained on a heat exchanger filled with more than 1 kg of Al(OH)-fumarate beads. Whereas the binder content had little impact on mass and heat transfer in this study, we found that Knudsen diffusion in mesopores of the grain may be the main limiting factor at the grain scale. At the adsorber scale, heat-transfer within the bed packing as well as to the heat exchanger is likely responsible for the slow adsorption and desorption kinetics which have been observed for very low desorption temperature. Finally, the dynamic aspects of the observed water adsorption isotherm shift with temperature are discussed in light of reported reversible structure modification upon temperature triggered water adsorption-desorption.

Improvement of Sinter Productivity and Qualities by Placing Low Slag Green Pellet at Lower Layer of Sinter Packed Bed

Improvement of Sinter Productivity and Qualities by Placing Low Slag Green Pellet at Lower Layer of Sinter Packed Bed

DEM based investigation of powder packing in 3D printing of pharmaceutical tablets

3D printing is emerging as one of the most promising methods to manufacture Pharmaceutical dosage forms as it offers multiple advantages such as personalization of dosage forms, polypill, fabrication of complex dosage forms etc. 3D printing came into existence in 1980s but its use was extended recently to pharmaceutical industry along with the approval of first 3D printed tablet Spritam by FDA in 2015. Spritam was manufactured by Aprecia pharmaceuticals using binder jetting technology. Binder jet 3D printing involves a hopper for powder discharge and printheads for ink jetting. The properties of tablets are highly dependent upon the discharge quality of powder mixture from the hopper and jetting of the ink/binder solution from the printhead nozzle. In this study, numerical models were developed using Discrete element method (DEM) to gain better understanding of the binder jet 3D printing process. The DEM modeling of hopper discharge was performed using in-house DEM code to study the effect of raw material attributes such as powder bed packing density (i.e. particle size, particle density etc) on the printing process, especially during powder bed preparation. This DEM model was further validated experimentally, and the model demonstrated good agreement with experimental results.

Performance Evaluation of Porous Graphene as Filter Media for the Removal of Pharmaceutical/Emerging Contaminants from Water and Wastewater.

Graphene and its counterparts have been widely used for the removal of contaminants from (waste)water but with limited success for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants. Driven by this need, this study reports, for the first time, the removal of pharmaceuticals from real contaminated water samples using porous graphene (PG) as a filter-based column. This work systematically evaluates the performance of PG as a filter medium for the removal of widely consumed pharmaceutical/emerging contaminants (ECs) such as atenolol, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, gemfibrozil and ibuprofen. Several factors were investigated in these column studies, including different reactive layer configurations, bed packing heights (5–45 mm), filter sizes (inner diameter 18–40 mm), adsorbent dosages (100–500 mg-PG) and water bodies (distilled water, greywater, and actual effluent wastewater). Sustainable synthesis of PG was carried out followed by its use as a filter medium for the removal of pharmaceuticals at high concentrations (10.5 ± 0.5 mg/L) and trace concentrations (1 mg/L). These findings revealed that the double-layered PG-sand column outperformed a PG single-layered configuration for the removal of most of the ECs. The removal efficiency of ECs from their solutions was improved by increasing PG dosages and filter bed height and size. Although the treatment of mixed pharmaceutical solutions from different water bodies was affected by the negative interference caused by competing water compounds, the treatment of ECs-contaminated greywater was not severely affected. Our findings suggest that PG, as a highly efficient filter medium, could be used for the removal of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants from water and wastewater.

Effects of bed dimension, friction coefficient and pebble size distribution on the packing structures of the pebble bed for solid tritium breeder blanket

• Effects of bed width on the packing structures of pebble bed were investigated by DEM simulation. • Effects of pebble properties (friction coefficient between pebbles, pebble size distribution and pebble density) on the packing fraction of pebble bed were simulated and analyzed. • Packing structures of both the tritium breeder (Li 4 SiO 4 , Li 2 TiO 3 ) and the neutron multiplier (Be, Be 12 Ti) pebble beds were simulated and analyzed by DEM. In solid tritium breeder blanket, the packing structures of the tritium breeder pebble bed and the neutron multiplier pebble bed are very important to analyze the tritium breeder ratio and the heat and mass transfer process in the pebble bed. In this study, the numerous simulations were conducted to investigated the effects of bed dimension, friction coefficient between pebbles, pebble size distribution and pebble density on the packing structures of the ceramic tritium breeder (Li 4 SiO 4 , Li 2 TiO 3 ) pebble beds and the neutron multiplier (Be, Be 12 Ti) pebble bed by discrete element method (DEM), respectively. The simulation results reveal that the pebble bed dimension, friction coefficient and pebble size distribution have a significant impact on the pebble bed packing fraction. As the width of the pebble bed container increases, the average packing fraction of the pebble bed gradually increases, meanwhile the influence of volume fraction of the wall effect gradually decreases. In addition, a lower friction coefficient between pebbles (smoother surface of the tritium breeder and the neutron multiplier pebbles) and wider pebble size distribution will result in a higher packing fraction of the pebble bed. However, the material density of the ceramic tritium breeder (Li 4 SiO 4 , Li 2 TiO 3 ) pebbles and the neutron multiplier (Be, Be 12 Ti) pebble seems to have no obvious effect on the packing fraction of the wider pebble bed for the solid tritium breeder blanket.

Adsorption Desorption Operations of Multilayer Desiccant Packed Bed for Dehumidification Applications (Dept.M)

In this work, the effect of design and operating parameters on the performance of a multilayer desiccant packed bed was theoretically and experimentally studied. In the experimental work, a silica gel packed bed of eight layers has been studied. The transient value of the mass of adsorbed water and desorbed water were measured for different values of the bed length. The theoretical model shows the dependence of the dimensionless value of water content in the bed on the dimensionless time. Also the model shows that the dimensionless temperature depends on the bed characteristics and bed water content. The effect of inlet air humidity and velocity on the adsorption process for each bed layer was studied at different inlet velocity and at different air humidity. The effect of inlet temperature on desorption process for each packed bed layer was also studied at different inlet temperatures. The theoretical model also introduces an equation which can be used to predict the optimum bed length. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical results was found.

Perancangan Desain Portable Fixed-Bed Composite Adsorber Column sebagai Media Pemurnian Biodiesel dengan Sistem Packing Bed

Crude biodiesel membutuhkan proses pemurnian yang tepat dimana harus memenuhi spesifikasi standar biodiesel internasional sehingga layak digunakan oleh konsumen. Selain itu pemurnian biodiesel bertujuan untuk memperpanjang umur simpan biodiesel sebelum digunakan. Permasalahan utama yang sering muncul pada proses pencucian adalah emulsifikasi dan oksidasi. Penggunaan adsorben secara umum bertujuan untuk penyerapan (mengadsorpsi) komponen-komponen bahan pengotor dalam minyak atau senyawa trigliserida. Kolom adsorbsi yang banyak digunakan adalah berbentuk kolom fix bed dengan isian kolom yang bertumpuk berantakan. Hal ini menyulitkan pada saat pembersihan dan pengisian adsorben, selain itu tumpukan adsorben yang tidak teratur akan menghabat proses aliran fluida yang ingin dimurnikan. Produk penelitian ini adalah desain alat Portable Fixed Bed Composite Adsorber Column yang terdiri dari 3 bagian, yaitu: top distributor, packing bed, dan bottom collector. Prinsip dari ketiga bagian tersebut adalah seperti puzzle yang dapat diatur jumlah packing bed-nya mengikuti kebutuhan pemurnian yang diinginkan. Ketiga bagian alat tersebut dihubungkan dengan ulir sehingga dapat dibongkar pasang sesuai keinginan. Bahan utama dari alat tersebut adalah PLA, namun dapat pula dibuat dari bahan lain sesuai kebutuhan misalnya stainless steel, kaca, atau akrilik. Alat ini harapannya dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pemurnian biodiesel berbasis adsorpsi yang mudah, murah, dan dapat dikustomisasi sesuai dengan jenis adsorben yang diinginkan. Desain alat ini dapat diduplikasi untuk proses pemurnian lain berbasis adsorpsi, seperti pemurnian bioethanol, air limbah, dsb.

3D CFD Analysis of Natural Ventilation in Reduced Scale Model of Compost Bedded Pack Barn for Dairy Cows

Compost bedded pack (CBP) barns have been receiving increased attention as an alternative housing system for dairy cattle. To create a satisfactory environment within CBP barns that promotes a good composting process, an adequate air movement and minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the building are required. Therefore, a study based on compost barn structure model employing techniques of dimensional analysis for naturally ventilated buildings was developed. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of compost barns with different ridge designs and wind direction, along with the visual demonstration of the impact on airflow through structure were performed. The results showed that the barn ventilation CFD model and simulations were in good agreement with the experimental measurements, predicting the airflow through the CBP barns structure for alternative roof ridge types adequately. The results also indicate that the best roof configuration in the winter was the open ridge with chimney for a west to east wind direction.

Densification behaviour and three-dimensional printing of Y2O3 ceramic powder by selective laser sintering

The selective laser sintering (SLS) of an yttria (Y2O3) ceramic powder was studied to understand both the effects of i) the initial yttria particle characteristics on the powder bed behaviour and ii) the process conditions (laser power, scanning speed, hatching space) on the sintering/melting of three-dimensionally printed objects. The roughness of the powder bed, a sensitive indicator of the layer bed quality, was determined through three-dimensional optical profilometry and the powder bed packing density was modelled using the discrete-element method. Complex shaped objects including spheres and open rings were successfully fabricated by the SLS three-dimensional printing. In addition, SLS cube-shaped samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The open pore volume fraction significantly decreased from 41% without a post-SLS heat treatment to 31% with a post-SLS heat treatment at 1750 °C for 20 h under secondary vacuum. Finally, an anisotropy in elastic properties has been highlighted, Young's modulus reaches 11 GPa in the stiffest direction.

Effect of catalyst shape on pressure drop and liquid holdup in a pilot plant trickle bed reactor

An atmospheric experimental study was carried out to measure hydrodynamics (pressure drop and liquid holdup) in TBR. The current work aimed to investigate the influence of catalyst shape, gas flow rate, and liquid flow rate on hydrodynamics through different industrial catalyst beds that comprised spherical, cylindrical, trilobe, and quadrilobe. Air was used as a gas phase with an extensive range from 0.03 to 0.27 m/s, while water was used with a range from 0.004 to 0.016 m/s, within 0.14 m inside diameter of a cylindrical column and 2 m bed length through various packing beds. The measured data were compared with two model approaches (phenomenological and empirical approaches) to investigate the effect of catalyst shape, gas flow rate, and liquid flow rate on the pressure drop and liquid holdup. The phenomenological model developed based on a physical picture with no two-phase fitted parameters. Ergun coefficients for a single-phase fluid flow were implemented to represent the bed characteristics in the bed. Modified Ergun coefficients were determined for each bed and compared with universal Ergun coefficients (E*1 = 150 and E*2 = 1.75) and non-spherical universal coefficients (E*1 = 180 and E*2 = 1.8). The comparison for total data regardless the bed indicated a maximum deviation of ±56% with Ergun and non-spherical coefficients, while decreased to a negligible value of 7% with modified coefficients. The results revealed a significant impact for catalyst shape, gas flow rate, and liquid flow rate on the hydrodynamics. Furthermore, the comparison between the data and models showed the phenomenological model exhibited a better agreement than the empirical model with a mean relative error for the pressure drop of 31.81% and the liquid holdup of 10.36%.