Premium
CFD Simulation of Capillary Condensation during Freeze Drying of Porous Material
Author(s) -
Hassan Ghajar M.,
Hashemabadi S. H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201100014
Subject(s) - sublimation (psychology) , porosity , capillary action , condensation , materials science , capillary condensation , porous medium , freeze drying , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , computational fluid dynamics , composite material , thermodynamics , chromatography , chemistry , adsorption , organic chemistry , psychology , physics , engineering , psychotherapist
The formation and distribution of condensed vapor during the freeze drying of porous polymer hydrogels are numerically evaluated. The sublimation‐condensation model is developed by CFD simulation to investigate phase change in the freeze drying process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the structure of cross‐linked gelatine and an idealized geometry model was applied to determine interconnected pore structure. The simulation explores the influence of various parameters on condensation and drying rate, including temperature, pressure, pore diameter, liquid volume fraction, and porosity. The optimum temperature is estimated to enhance drying rate and decrease condensation in the freeze drying process. The results show that condensation in porous materials depends on capillary forces and cause invasion percolation patterns.