A Parametric Study on Isobaric Adsorption Process in a Closed Adsorbent Bed

Abstract

A numerical study on heat and mass transfer in an annular adsorbent bed filled with adsorbent granules for an isobaric adsorption process is performed. In order to reduce the number of independent parameters that influences heat and mass transfer in the bed, the governing equations and related initial and boundary conditions for the problem are non-dimensionalized and this yields two dimensionless parameters as G and Γ. The G dimensionless parameter is the ratio of heat of adsorption to sensible heat stored by adsorbent particle and Γ parameter compares mass diffusion within the adsorbent particle and heat diffusion in the radial direction of the adsorbent bed. The obtained results show that the total dimensionless time for an adsorption process can be reduced by increasing of Γ value. The total dimensionless time is independent from G for low values of Γ (i.e. Γ=105). The results also show that the instantaneous equilibrium model can provide accurate results only for an adsorbent bed with a low value of Γ (i.e. Γ=105). The present study is performed for Γ values from 105 to 1 and G value from 1 to 100. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.