Different Approaches for CFD Simulation of Gas-Liquid Two Phase Flow through the Trickle-Bed Reactors

In this study hydrodynamics of gas-liquid downward flow through the trickle bed reactor have been investigated by CFD simulation. The catalysts that are used in this bed are industrial trilobe type. Unsteady state 2D simulations have been performed based on Eulerian-Eulerian approach. Governing equations are solved by finite volume method for all computational domain and solving view point is changed from three phase to two phase, so that interfacial forces are considered as source terms. First-order UPWIND differencing method was used for discretization of convection terms and the SIMPLE method was applied for solution of the pressure velocity coupled equations. The CFD results show appropriate agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, the computational time reduces considerably respect to three phase approach. In addition, the effects of porosity function and tortuosity have been investigated.