A Multiscale 3D Packed Bed Reactor

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Multiscale Packed Bed Reactor

An extra dimension approach to

model the mass and reaction
distribution along the 3D reactor and
within each catalyst pellet along the
reactor length. The pellet radial
dimension constitutes the extra 4th
dimension through the Reactive
Pellet Bed feature

Multiscale Packed Bed Reactor

A and B are reactants and C is

product. Reversible catalytic
reaction:

Reaction rates
follow:

+2

+2
2

moles/(m3s)

Symmetry
in
macroscale
geometry

Automatic Tool in COMSOL for

Multiscale Problem

Packed pellet bed: Adds extra pellet

dimension to problem

Equations

In bed volume, transport by convection and diffusion

In bed volume, velocity determined by Darcys law

In pellet, reaction and transport by diffusion,

spherical formulation

At pellet boundary, flux continuity and concentration continuity is assured

Results, macroscale

Bed pressure distribution, gauge

pressure

Concentration distribution of
reactant A in the macro space. A is
consumed by the pellet reactions
along the flow path

Results, macroscale

Velocity streamlines at the bottom part.

Colors denote the concentration of diol
monomer in moles/m3

Results, microscale

Example plots of the pellet concentrations

at center of column, at 0.5 m height position

Results, microscale

Concentration distibution in one

catalytic pellet: The product C has a
higher concentration at the center,
showing that product exits the pellet
at the surface during reaction

3D representation of the product

concentration