Mathematical modeling of heat and mass transfer in packed-bed adsorbers/regenerators

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690391108· OSTI ID:6011734

Gouvalias, G S; Markatos, N C ^[1]

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1. National Technical Univ., Athens (Greece). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

Adsorber-regenerators are used extensively in the process industries for gas cleaning and separation. Nonisothermal adsorption is studied by incorporating its mathematical description into a model consisting of the full two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations and energy and species concentration equations to simulate the processes in fixed-bed industrial adsorber/regenerators. The model partial-differential equations are solved numerically by using well-established computational fluid dynamics techniques. The equilibrium between gas and solid is considered nonlinear, which is described by Freundlich-type equations. The transport and adsorption of a compound from a solvent to and into an adsorbent are described by a two-step process: transport through the film to the outer surface of the particle and diffusion into the porous particle. The effect of fill resistance is discussed, as well as a two-equation turbulence model. Solutions obtained for a typical industrial adsorber/regenerator demonstrate the potential of this method. The computed results for various flow ratios and parameters in the Freundlich equations are shown to be physically plausible.

• OSTI ID: 6011734
• Journal Information: AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States) Vol. 39:11; ISSN 0001-1541; ISSN AICEAC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
ADSORBENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POROSITY
REGENERATION
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDS
TURBULENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS