3D Numerical Study of Multiphase Counter-Current Flow within a Packed Bed for Post Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture

Li Yang, Fang Liu, Zhengchang Song, Kunlei Liu and Kozo Saito
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Li Yang: Key Laboratory of Coal-Based CO 2 Capture and Geological Storage, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Fang Liu: School of Electrical and Power Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Zhengchang Song: School of Electrical and Power Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Kunlei Liu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Kozo Saito: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: The hydrodynamics within counter-current flow packed beds is of vital importance to provide insight into the design and operational parameters that may impact reactor and reaction efficiencies in processes used for post combustion CO 2 capture. However, the multiphase counter-current flows in random packing used in these processes are complicated to visualize. Hence, this work aimed at developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to study more precisely the complex details of flow inside a packed bed. The simulation results clearly demonstrated the development of, and changes in, liquid distributions, wetted areas, and film thickness under various gas and liquid flow rates. An increase in values of the We number led to a more uniform liquid distribution, and the flow patterns changed from droplet flow to film flow and trickle flow as the We number was increased. In contrast, an increase in gas flow rate had no significant effect on the wetted areas and liquid holdup. It was also determined that the number of liquid inlets affected flow behavior, and the liquid surface tension had an insignificant influence on pressure drop or liquid holdup; however, lower surface tension provided a larger wetted area and a thinner film. An experimental study, performed to enable comparisons between experimentally measured pressure drops and simulation-determined pressure drops, showed close correspondence and similar trends between the experimental data and the simulation data; hence, it was concluded that the simulation model was validated and could reasonably predict flow dynamics within a counter-current flow packed bed.

Keywords: post combustion CO 2 capture; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); multiphase counter-current flow; flow characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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