PRESSURE DROP IN FIXED PACKED

BEDS

Equation of Ergun
For a single phase and spherical particles ΔP/L=constant.
−Δ P 150∗(1− ε )2∗μ ∗v 1.75∗ ρ∗v 2∗( 1− ε )
( L )= D 2p∗ ε 3
+ D p∗ε 3

Δ P : pressure drop .
L :height of bed packed .
μ : viscosity of fluid .
ρ :density of fluid .
v : superficial velocity at average density between inlet ∧outlet conditions .
D p : particle diameter .
 D p∗ε3
Multiplying by the equation of Ergun
(1− ε )
−Δ P
( L )
∗D p∗ε
3

=
150∗(1− ε )∗μ∗v
+1.75∗ρ∗v 2
(1− ε ) Dp
v2 ρ
( )( )
multiplying by 2 ∗ ρ the first term of the equation∧reorganizing we have :
v
−Δ P
(L )
∗D p∗ε3
=
150∗(1− ε )∗μ
+1.75
(1− ε )∗ρ∗v 2
D p∗ρ∗v
D ∗ρ∗v
R p= p μ
−Δ P
L( ∗D p∗ε )
3

=
150∗(1−ε )
+1.75
2
(1−ε )∗ρ∗v Rp
 −Δ P “One simple approach is to
( L )
∗D p∗ε3
=
150∗(1− ε )
+1.75=f mf
describe the shape of a particle in
terms of its sphericity (Φp), the
2
(1− ε )∗ρ∗v R p
ratio of the surface area of a
f mf :modified friction factor sphere of volume equal to that of
Ergun equation generalized the particle to the surface area of
−Δ P 150∗(1− ε )2∗μ ∗v 1.75∗ ρ∗v 2∗(1− ε ) the particle.
( L
= ) 2 2
ϕ p D p∗ε 3
+
ϕ p∗D p∗ε 3
For example, a cube of side one
unit has a volume of 1 (cubic
where ϕ p is the sphericity of the particle units) and a surface area of 6
Equation of Carman− Kozeny (laminar flow) (square units). A sphere of the
2 same volume has a diameter, Dp
−Δ P 150∗(1− ε ) ∗μ∗v
(
L
= ) ϕ 2p D 2p∗ε3
of 1.24 units. The surface area of
a sphere of diameter 1.24 units is
Equation of Burke−Plummer (turbulent flow ) 4.836 units. The sphericity of a
2 cube is therefore 0.806 (1⁄4
−Δ P 1.75∗ρ∗v ∗(1− ε )
(
L
= ) ϕ p∗D p∗ε3
4.836/6).”1

1. Rhodes, Martin (2008). Introduction to particle technology. 2 ed. Jhon Wiley and Son Ltd.
Pressure drop in flow through fixed packed beds
Sphericity in function of porosity
 Flux= GA
G : flow M∗T −1
A : cross−sectional area
G=q∗ρ
q=v∗A
G=v∗A∗ρ
Flux=v∗ρ
v= Flux
ρ
For a cylinder
2
π∗D
A= 4 T

v∗ π∗D T2 ∗ρ
G= 4
4∗G
v= π∗D 2T ρ
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Section of FLUID FLOW
Link Packed bed pressure drop Ergun Equation
Example: it is going to use a cube bed of 0.25 in as a packed for a regenerator
boiler. The cubes have a height of 10 ft. Air flows through packed bed at 80 °F
and 100 lb/in2 and this outlet at 400 °F, flowing at 1000 lb/(h*ft2). Calculate the
pressure drop in the packed bed.