CFD Simulation Of Hydrodynamic Behaviors In Mellapak250Y Structured Packing

Structured packing columns are widely used in chemical andpetrochemical industries. They play important role in heat and mass transferbetween fluids (or liquids), purification and separation processes. Manypeople studied well-designed and highly efficient packings to lower the costof units and to meet the increasing industrial economic requirements.Structured packings have higher separation efficiencies, higher capacity andlower pressure drop as compared with traditional trays and random packings.However, it is very difficult to perform experimental investigations insidethe packed columns; therefore, CFD simulation can be used as a quick,cheap means for designing and optimization of structured packing.This work focused on the hydrodynamic behaviors of structuredpackings. Based on previous research work, this article further studied thespecific details of fluid flow within structured packing columns, such asflow path lines, pressure drop and velocity. After comparing simulationresults with others’ experimental work, it showed the simulation results wasright. The3D model was then simplified to simulate the hydrodynamic behaviors of steady flow and unsteady flow, respectively, due to thecomplexity of two-phase flow and the limitation of computer capacity. Thetwo results showed a lot difference, in which the unsteady flow was muchcloser to the reality. At last, we simulated the chemical reaction of ammoniaand CO2in packing, which was still rarely conducted by CFD at present.