Numerical Study of Flow Field Characteristics for a Random Narrow Fixed Bed Reactor using Computational Fluid Dynamics

ABSTRACT

The pressure drop characteristics for a narrow fixed bed reactor system were modeled for laminar and turbulent flow regimes. The study includes performing CFD simulations over a random packed bed assembly generated during the course of the study. The inlet superficial velocities ranged from 6.44 x 10⁻³−1.3 ms^-1 corresponding to particle Reynolds number range of 0.509-1000. Prior to modeling bed pressure drop characteristics, the radial porosity distribution of the generated bed assembly was determined and compared against random bed experimental porosity profile data. The porosity data comparison enabled us to check if the generated bed geometry adequately represented typical random bed assembly. Ultimately pressure drop simulations were performed. The simulation data was later compared with the empirical correlations and experimental data available in the literature. Results indicate good agreement among modeling, experimental and correlation data.

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