Pressure Drop in Packed Bed Reactors: Screencast
Describes how to use the Ergun equation to calculate the pressure drop in a packed bed.
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Important Equations:
Ergun equation for pressure drop in a packed bed:
\[ \frac{dP}{dz} = -\frac{(1\, -\, \phi)\nu }{D_p \,\phi^3 A_c} \left[ \frac{150 (1 \,- \,\phi) \mu}{D_p} + \frac{1.75(\rho \nu)}{A_c} \right]\]
where \(P\) = pressure
\(z\) = distance down the reactor
\(\phi\) = void fraction (volume of tube not occupied by particles)
\(\nu\) = volumetric flow rate
\(D_p\) = diameter of particles in packed bed
\(A_c\) = cross-sectional area of tube
\(\mu\) = viscosity of gas
\(\rho\) = mass density
For an ideal gas
\[\nu = \frac{F_T RT}{P}\]
where \(F_T\) = total molar flow rate
\(R\) = ideal gas constant
\(T\) = absolute temperature