A γ-alumina digital twin is
created by means of a hierarchical
pore network model. For this digital twin, nitrogen porosimetry is
simulated, and the parameters of the pore network model are modified
by means of a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm until both
branches of the digital isotherm match those of the experimental isotherm.
After parameter identification, the resulting pore network model provides
a digital isotherm that is in good agreement with the experimental
results. The same set of parameters also allows to predict the experimental
nitrogen scanning curves. The BJH pore size distribution obtained
from the digital isotherm corresponds well to the experimental one.
Therefore, the generated digital twin can statistically represent
the topology of the industrial alumina sample. Diffusion simulations
on the final structure allowed one to estimate the tortuosity factor
of the structure. The predicted value differs by less than 20% from
the tortuosity factor measured by PFG-NMR.
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