Analysing the porous structure of packed beds of spheres using a semi-analytical approach

Abstract

In this paper methodologies are described for the analysis of the porous structure of cylindrical and annular packed beds consisting of spheres when the coordinates and sizes of the spheres are known. Methodologies to determine the overlap between adjacent spheres and between the spheres and the walls of the container; axial variation in the porosity and hydraulic diameter; and the radial variation in the porosity are described. The determination of the overall bulk porosity, as well as the average porosity of selected regions, from the results are also discussed. The methodologies are based on analytical geometry and Simpson's rule is used to perform the numerical integration of the relevant integrals. The validity of the methodologies is demonstrated and the application of the methodologies to analyse the porous structure of selected packed beds is illustrated