CFD study and experimental validation of multiphase packed bed hydrodynamics in the context of Rolling Sea conditions

Abstract

The necessity for a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD)‐based model to deepen our understanding about the complex hydrodynamics of gas–liquid flows in oscillating porous media has driven this experimental and simulation work. A transient three‐dimensional Euler–Euler porous media CFD model using moving reference frame and sliding mesh techniques was applied to elucidate the dynamic features of gas–liquid flows of cocurrent downflow packed beds subject to tilts and oscillations reminiscent of sea conditions. Incorporation of capillary and mechanical dispersion forces besides interphase momentum exchange terms in the CFD model to achieve reliable predictions was evaluated with respect to experimental data acquired by capacitance wire‐mesh sensors and differential pressure transmitter. In the light of the validated CFD model, a detailed sensitivity analysis was performed to address the interrelations between hydrodynamic parameters, influence of fluid properties and packing size on the model predictions, and additional contribution of column oscillations on multiphase dynamics. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 385–397, 2019

Modeling of gas–liquid flow in a rotating packed bed using an Eulerian multi‐fluid approach

“…On the contrary, the usage of Eulerian multi‐fluid methods could be a promising approach for simulation of gas–liquid flow and mass transfer in pilot‐scale or large‐scale chemical reactors due to the lower requirement of computational grid and shorter calculation time 24 . Currently, Eulerian multi‐fluid approach has been widely used in studying the liquid dispersion, 25 hydrodynamic behaviors, 26–31 and CO 2 absorption 32–34 in conventional packed beds or trickle beds. Eulerian two‐fluid model with a porous media model 35–37 and Eulerian three‐fluid model 38 are commonly used in these CFD studies.…”

110th Anniversary: Marinization of Multiphase Reactors through the Prism of Chemical Engineers

“…Numerical simulations were recently conducted to elucidate the hydrodynamic behavior of gas–liquid cocurrent downflow packed beds under ship tilts and roll motions using a transient 3D two-fluid Eulerian CFD model within porous media approach . Attou et al drag force closures were used to account for the porous resistances (i.e., fluid–solid interactions) and gas–liquid interaction.…”

“…U g = 9.2 cm/s, U l = 1.2 mm/s; H = 50 cm. Adapted with permission from ref . Copyright 2018 John Wiley and Sons.…”

Liquid Flow Visualization in Packed‐Bed Multiphase Reactors: Wire‐Mesh Sensor Design and Data Analysis for Rotating Fixed Beds

“…Additionally, extensive work has been conducted in the recent years to study the effect of sea conditions on the hydrodynamics of floating trickle‐beds, such as reactors embarked on floating platforms or ships. Here, the packed bed with embedded capacitance WMSs were installed on a swell simulator and six‐degree‐of‐freedom motions were applied to emulate the behavior of floating packed beds of random particles and solid foams . In particular, the dynamic response of gas‐liquid distribution pattern, liquid saturation, flow regime transition and pulse flow properties to translational (surge, sway, heave) and rotational (roll, pitch, yaw) motions were visualized and compared to those of the corresponding static vertical and inclined configurations.…”