Numerical Simulation of Multicomponent Isobaric Adsorption in Fixed Bed Columns

Abstract

A model has been formulated for multicomponent isobaric adsorption in fixed bed columns. The following mass transfer mechanisms were used: convective flow, axial dispersion, external particle mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion. Analysis was applied on the system of governing equations to obtain controlling dimensionless criteria for the fixed bed adsorber. The derived criteria can be divided into three groups, namely: main dynamic criteria, equilibrium criteria and multicomponent dynamic criteria, their physical meaning has been discussed. The system of equations has been numerically solved using a finite difference method with an implicit conservative scheme. On the basis of this model a numerical simulation has been made to determine the influence of external particle mass transfer, axial dispersion, intraparticle diffusion and adsorption equilibrium on adsorber dynamics.