Investigation of fluid behavior in a fixed packed bed using computational fluid dynamics

In this research the behavior of fluid was investigated in a fixed packed bed with tube to particle diameter ratio of 4.6 using computational fluid dynamics. The geometry of bed was modeled using the discrete packing method. The CFD simulations were carried out in a range of Reynolds number 3.85-611.79 in laminar and turbulent flow regimes. The RNG k-ε turbulence model was used in turbulent flow regime. It was observed that the fluid flow was fully developed in the space of 0.75 cm. The CFD results were compared with empirical correlations in the literature. The predicted pressure drop values were overestimated in laminar flow regime and were underestimated in turbulent flow regime as compared to the Ergun’s correlation due to the wall friction and the flow channeling in the bed, respectively. The CFD results of the pressure drop showed good agreement with the correlations of Zhavoronkov et al. and Reichelt.