Application of Voronoi tesselation for modeling randomly packed hollow-fiber bundles
- Univ. of New South Wales, Kensington (Australia). Centre for Membrane Science and Technology
Hollow-fiber modules consisting of fiber bundles in a tube and shell configuration have been used in many applications such as filtration or contactor devices. They are being studied for use in membrane distillation and other separation processes. Recent applications also include bioreactors. Influence of local voids on flow maldistribution in randomly packed fiber bundles is examined by Voronoi tessellation. A theoretical expression for the local void distribution caused by random placement of fibers is developed by using a random-cell model. Simulations and packing experiments have been conducted to assess the accuracy of the theoretical distribution of cell sizes: In the case of shell side, laminar flow parallel to the fibers, the theoretical distribution is used to estimate fRe (friction factor times Reynolds number) and volumetric flows, and to compare results with ordered arrays and experimental data from literature. The results are used to assess the contributions of local voidage variations to flow bypass. This has implications for the prediction of pressure drop and heat and mass transfer in hollow-fiber module applications where transport is dominated by flow on the shell side.
- OSTI ID:
- 7152147
- Journal Information:
- AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States), Vol. 40:4; ISSN 0001-1541
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
VOID FRACTION
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
ENERGY TRANSFER
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
400105 - Separation Procedures