Pressure Drop for Smooth PIPE Isolated

SPHERE and PACKED BED

Carman-Kozeny Model
Flow Through a Bed of Particles
 Laminar Flow
72 µ Lu0 (1 − ε )
2
∆p =
Dp2
ε 3

In actuality the above equation does not account for the tortuous path
through the bed and ∆L is much longer. Experimental data show that a
numerical constant of 150 should replace the 72.

150 µ Lu0 (1 − ε )
2
∆p =
D p2 ε3
Blake-Kozeny equation. Assumes ε < 0.5 and Rep < 10.

1 D p u0 ρ f
Re p =
1− ε µ
 Turbulent Flow
One cannot use the Hagen-Poiseuille approximation when flow is
turbulent. After substituting in Dh and velocity correction

3 fρ u02 L (1 − ε )
∆p =
Dp ε 3

Experimentally:

1.75 ρ u L (1 − ε )
2

Re p > 1,000 ∆p = 0
Dp ε3
Burke-Plummer Equation
Intermediate Flow
150 µ u0 Lb (1 − ε ) 1.75 ρ u Lb (1 − ε )
2 2
∆p = + 0
Dp 2
ε 3
Dp ε3
Ergun Equation

D
∆p p ε 3
150
= + 1.75
ρ u0 L (1 − ε ) Re p
2

Note: equation can be used with gases using average gas density
between inlet and outlet.
Fixed Bed “Friction Factor”