Fluid Flow

Packed Bed Pressure Drop

Estimates packed bed pressure drop based on Ergun equation along with minimum fluidization and maximum superficial velocity.

Packed Bed Data

Select Particle Shape

Particle Sphericity, Φ_S : 1.000

Diameter, Dp

Bed Porosity, ε

Particle Density, ρ_p

kg/m³

Gas Data

Packed Column

Porosity

Ergun Equation

$\displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{\Delta P}{L} = 150\frac{\mu_f V \left( 1 - \varepsilon \right)^2 }{\phi_s^2 D_p^2 \varepsilon^3} + 1.75\frac{\rho_f V^2 \left( 1 - \varepsilon \right) }{\phi_s D_p \varepsilon^3}$

Volumetric Gas Flowrate	m³/h	3103
Superficial Gas Velocity	m/s	0.702
Reynold's Number	-	902.7
Pressure Drop, ΔP	bar	0.0248

Minimum Fluidization Velocity, V_mf

At minimum fluidization, pressure drop across bed is balanced by effective weight of the particle.

$\displaystyle \displaystyle \left( \rho_p -\rho_f \right)g = 150\frac{\mu_f V_{mf} \left( 1 - \varepsilon_{mf} \right) }{\phi_s^2 D_p^2 \varepsilon_{mf}^3} + 1.75\frac{\rho_f V_{mf}^2}{\phi_s D_p \varepsilon_{mf}^3}$

V_mf	m/s	2.04

Maximum Velocity, V_max

Beyond maximum superficial velocity, particles will be carried away by the gas and will leave at the bed exit.

$\displaystyle \displaystyle V_{max} = \frac{g D_p^2 \left( \rho_p -\rho_f \right)}{18 \mu_f}$

V_max	m/s	4669

Plot for Pressure Drop, ΔP