Flow experiments on packed beds using the University of Adelaide water tunnel.

Abstract

Experiments were carried out using University of Adelaide Water Tunnel to determine pressure drop and flow distribution data for packed beds of spheres. Two randomly packed and two regularly packed beds were investigated. The preparation, assembly and testing of these sphere packings are described and the results analysed and discussed. The friction factors for the two regular beds were found to be higher than for the two random beds. The agreement of the random bed data with that from similar studies is good. Flow profiles, except for the wall region, were essentially flat and independent of Reynolds number.