SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 85-108.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2021.09.024

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Computational fluid dynamic simulation of gas-liquid flow in rotating packed bed: A review

Wen-Cong Chen1, Ya-Wei Fan1, Liang-Liang Zhang1, Bao-Chang Sun1, Yong Luo1, Hai-Kui Zou1, Guang-Wen Chu1,2, Jian-Feng Chen1,2   

  1. 1 Research Center of the Ministry of Education for High Gravity Engineering and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China;
    2 StateKey Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2021-06-04 Revised:2021-09-26 Online:2022-02-25 Published:2022-01-28
  • Contact: Liang-Liang Zhang,E-mail address:zhll@mail.buct.edu.cn;Guang-Wen Chu,E-mail address:chugw@mail.buct.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978011 and 21725601).

Computational fluid dynamic simulation of gas-liquid flow in rotating packed bed: A review

Wen-Cong Chen1, Ya-Wei Fan1, Liang-Liang Zhang1, Bao-Chang Sun1, Yong Luo1, Hai-Kui Zou1, Guang-Wen Chu1,2, Jian-Feng Chen1,2   

  1. 1 Research Center of the Ministry of Education for High Gravity Engineering and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China;
    2 StateKey Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  • 通讯作者: Liang-Liang Zhang,E-mail address:zhll@mail.buct.edu.cn;Guang-Wen Chu,E-mail address:chugw@mail.buct.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978011 and 21725601).

Abstract: The rotating packed bed (RPB) has been widely used in gas-liquid flow systems as a process intensification device, exhibiting excellent mass transfer enhancement characteristics. However, the complex internal structure and the high-speed rotation of the rotor in RPB bring significant challenges to study the intensification mechanism by experiment methods. In the past two decades, Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been gradually applied to simulate the hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in RPB and instruct the reactor design. This article covers the development of the CFD simulation of gasliquid flow in RPB. Firstly, the improvement of the simulation method in the aspect of mathematical models, geometric models, and solving methods is introduced. Secondly, new progress of CFD simulation about hydrodynamic and mass transfer characteristics in RPB is reviewed, including pressure drop, velocity distribution, flow pattern, and concentration distribution, etc. Some new phenomena such as the end effect area with the maximum turbulent have been revealed by this works. In addition, the exploration of developing new reactor structures by CFD simulation is introduced and it is proved that such new structures are competitive to different applications. The defects of current research and future development directions are also discussed at last.

Key words: Rotating packed bed, Computational fluid dynamics, Simulation, Hydrodynamics, Mass transfer

摘要: The rotating packed bed (RPB) has been widely used in gas-liquid flow systems as a process intensification device, exhibiting excellent mass transfer enhancement characteristics. However, the complex internal structure and the high-speed rotation of the rotor in RPB bring significant challenges to study the intensification mechanism by experiment methods. In the past two decades, Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been gradually applied to simulate the hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in RPB and instruct the reactor design. This article covers the development of the CFD simulation of gasliquid flow in RPB. Firstly, the improvement of the simulation method in the aspect of mathematical models, geometric models, and solving methods is introduced. Secondly, new progress of CFD simulation about hydrodynamic and mass transfer characteristics in RPB is reviewed, including pressure drop, velocity distribution, flow pattern, and concentration distribution, etc. Some new phenomena such as the end effect area with the maximum turbulent have been revealed by this works. In addition, the exploration of developing new reactor structures by CFD simulation is introduced and it is proved that such new structures are competitive to different applications. The defects of current research and future development directions are also discussed at last.

关键词: Rotating packed bed, Computational fluid dynamics, Simulation, Hydrodynamics, Mass transfer