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3D CFD modelling and optimization of single‐phase flow in rotating packed beds
Author(s) -
Yang Yucheng,
Xiang Yang,
Li Yingang,
Chu Guangwen,
Zou Haikui,
Arowo Moses,
Chen Jianfeng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.22183
Subject(s) - baffle , mechanics , pressure drop , packed bed , computational fluid dynamics , flow (mathematics) , inlet , centrifugal force , porosity , mass transfer , rotational speed , volumetric flow rate , two phase flow , work (physics) , mixing (physics) , fluid dynamics , materials science , chemistry , mechanical engineering , engineering , physics , chromatography , composite material , quantum mechanics
Rotating Packed Beds (RPBs) are novel reactors used for intensification of mass transfer and mixing since they provide adjustable centrifugal force to simulate high gravity. In this work, in order to analyze and optimize fluid flow in RPBs, a three‐dimensional single‐phase flow was simulated and validated with previous experimental data. The results show that pressure drop increases with an increasing gas flow rate and rotation speed, and reveal the distribution of total pressure and velocity magnitude. A RPB with radial gas inlet, one of the generic types of RPBs, which is widely applied in the chemical industry but has poor gas distribution on the surface of packing, was optimized using various baffles. The width, distance, shape, and opening porosity of the baffles were examined by adopting a criterion, and their effect on gas distribution was illustrated. Finally, a possible optimum structure of the RPB was formulated under optimal operational conditions.