Fluid flow and heat transfer in fixed beds with tube to particle diameter ratios of N=3 and N=5.96 were simulated using COMSOL, a multiphysics program. The geometries of these models consisted of 55 and 400 spheres respectively. This type of study is traditionally done using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package, however, in this study it was desired to see how well a multiphysics package could compare. Results obtained from COMSOL were compared to data from published studies which performed similar simulations using a CFD package, and the data agreed relatively well. So COMSOL is a useful tool for simulating these types of models.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chase, Michael R.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-081611-112631

Advisor

• Dixon, Anthony G.

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-08-16

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright