Computational Modelling of Packed Bed Systems

N Gopinathan, M Fairweather, X Jia and R A Williams

Leeds Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

ABSTRACT

Predicting particle packing and flow through porous media has long been a problem for engineers of many disciplines. This paper describes a novel digitalisation approach, which is capable of predicting the way in which particles of any shape pack into a container of any geometry. The particle shapes are acquired using X-ray microtomography (XMT). Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) can then be used to predict fluid flow through the generated packing structure. It is demonstrated that the combination of the digital packing model DigiPac and LBM provides a powerful modelling capability for packed beds that is of value to the improved design of a wide range of unit operations. Through the use of XMT, the combination also gives higher-resolution results than, for example, the combination of magnetic resonance imaging and LBM previously reported.

Keywords Particle packing, X-ray tomography, Lattice Boltzmann method.