Numerical simulation and circuit network modelling of flow distributions in 2-D array configurations

Abstract

Packing configuration is widely used in chemical industries such as chemical reaction and chromatograph where the flow distribution has a significant effect on the performance of heat and mass transfer. In the present paper, numerical simulation is carried out to investigate the fluid-flow in three 2-D array configurations including in-line array, staggered array and hexagonal array. Meanwhile, a simplified equivalent circuit network model based on the Voronoi tessellation is proposed to simulate the flow models. It is found that firstly, the local Reynolds number could be used as a criterion to determine the flow regime. Flow with maximum local Reynolds number less than 40 could be regarded as Darcy flow. Secondly, the flow pattern can be well represented by the network model in the range of Darcy flow with the determination method of hydraulic resistance proposed in the present paper.

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“…Wang et al (p. 3533 in this Special Issue) upgraded the previously presented research of packed bed [54], a type of process equipment widely used in chemical industries. This time they investigated the relationship between the flow inhomogeneity and the heat transfer characteristics in two types of packed beds: the grille-sphere composite structured packed bed (GSCPB), and the structured packed bed in simple cubic (SC) configuration.…”