CHE132

FLUID FLOW THROUGH A

PACKED BED
 Objectives

 Characterize fluid flow through packed bed of particles. (CO1)

 Calculate pressure drop, superficial velocity, void fraction, flow
condition and model packed bed of particles. (CO1,CO3,CO4)
Illustration
 Calculations

 U – Superficial Velocity
 - Frictional Pressure Drop
 H – Depth of the packed bed
Laminar Flow

CONCEPT: starting point

- Fluid Viscosity
D – Tube Diameter
 Laminar Flow

Consider: Packed Bed = Many tubes

He – Equivalent Length Ui – Actual Velocity

De – Equivalent Diameter
 Laminar Flow

Tube Equivalent Diameter, De

De=
 Laminar Flow

Surface Area per unit volume of particle, Sv

Then:
 Laminar Flow

Substitute 6.4,6.5, and 6.7 to 6.3

 Laminar Flow

For Laminar:
K3 = 5

X – Sphere diameter
Turbulent Flow
 General Formula for Laminar and Turbulent Flow

 This is known as the Ergun equation for flow through a

randomly packed bed of spherical particles of diameter x.
 In practice, the Ergun equation is often used to predict packed
bed pressure gradient over the entire range of flow conditions
General Formula for Laminar and Turbulent Flow

 In terms of Re,
 Laminar Flow < 10
 Turbulent Flow > 2000
 General Formula for Laminar and Turbulent Flow

 Ergun also expressed flow through a packed bed in terms of a

friction factor
General Formula for Laminar and Turbulent Flow
 Non-Spherical Particles

 The Ergun and Carman–Kozeny equations also accommodate

non-spherical particles if x is replaced by XSV the diameter of a
sphere having the same surface to volume ratio as the non-
spherical particles in question. Use of XSV gives the correct value
of specific surface S (surface area of particles per unit volume of
particles)
 Non-Spherical Particles

 Ergun equation for flow through a randomly packed bed of

particles of surface-volume diameter XSV
 Non-Spherical Particles

 Carman–Kozeny equation for laminar flow through a randomly

packed bed of particles of surface-volume diameter XSV
 Sample Problem

 A packed bed of solid particles of density 2500 kg/m3

occupies a depth of 1 m in a vessel of cross-sectional area
0.04 m2 . The mass of solids in the bed is 50 kg and the
surface-volume mean diameter of the particles is 1 mm.
A liquid of density 800 kg/m3 and viscosity 0.002 Pa-s
flows upwards through the bed, which is restrained at its
upper surface.
(a) Calculate the voidage (volume fraction occupied by voids) of
the bed. ANSWER: 0.50
(b) Calculate the frictional pressure drop across the bed when
the volume flow rate of liquid is 1.44 m3/h.
ANSWER: 6560 Pa
Calculations
 Sample Problem 2

 A packed bed of solids of density 2000 kg/m3 occupies a

depth of 0.6 m in a cylindrical vessel of inside diameter 0.1
m. The mass of solids in the bed is 5 kg and the surface-
volume mean diameter of the particles is 300 mm. Water
(density 1000 kg/m3 and viscosity 0.001 Pa-s) flows
upwards through the bed.
(a) What is the voidage of the packed bed? 0.4692
(b) Calculate the frictional superficial liquid velocity at
which the pressure drop across the bed is 4130 Pa.
1.5mm/s (Ergun)
Sample Problem 2
 Sample Problem 3

 A solution of density 1100 kg/m3 and viscosity 2 x 10-3

Pa-s is flowing under gravity at a rate of 0.24 kg/s
through a bed of catalyst particles. The bed diameter is
0.2 m and the depth is 0.5 m. The particles are
cylindrical, with a diameter of 1 mm and length of 2
mm. They are packed to give a voidage of 0.3. Calculate
the depth of liquid above the top of the bed. [Hint:
apply the mechanical energy equation between the
bottom of the bed and the surface of the liquid]
ANSWER: 0.716m
Sample Problem 3
Sample Problem 3