I want to get a prediction to pressure drop at various operation mode for a catalytic fixed-bed reactor. As can be appreciated, voidage of catalytic bed is a crucial parameter for this prediction. Hence, Is there any simple but efficient methods applicable to obtain voidage of catalytic bed in fixed-bed reactor?
Helium Pyconometer is a useful tool to get the true density. The bulk density can be measured by measuring the mass divided by the un-consolidated volume. The porosity can then be calculated by taking the ratio of the bulk density to the true density. This can give you a rough estimate of the void volume.
Dear Steven H Chan:
Thank you very much!
I have found this method in any chemical reaction engineering book. Is the relative error comparable with the one using experimental method? Can you give me some data on this aspect?
@Farid Benyahia, @Steven H Chan
Indeed, the particle density rather than true density should be used in this calculation, and I have calculated the bed voidage with this method. However, the prediction value of pressure drop is quite different from the experimental value, which is directly measured in a single-tube catalytic bed (12000*33*3mm). I do'not know why!!! I doubt that the volume flowrate feeding into the tube is incorrect measured, with a larger displayed value than the true value. But I have not found out the truth.
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