SIMULATION OF PACKING DENSITY AND LIQUID FLOW IN FIXED-BEDS

Simulations of packed beds were carried out using computer techniques. Models based on momentum effects alone gave a result which showed sim ilar general characteristics to the real situation but with too high a voidage. More success was obtained with models based on packing eleme nt settlement, placement or increasing the coordination number. The ch aracteristics of the simulated beds were checked in a number of ways a nd gave results somewhat in line with experiments. The resulting bed s imulation model was employed in the computer simulation of liquid tric kling through a packed tower. The resulting liquid distribution compar ed favourably with measured data. The effect of varying the characteri stics of the liquid rivulet motion were detailed. Although the modelli ng provides a powerful tool for the study of reactions and transfer in packed beds the computational requirements will be large.