Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental investigations on flow similarity for a simplified test case resembling a LOHC trickle-bed reactor

A similarity law is derived to enable the controlled investigation of flow phenomena inside a trickle-bed reactor for liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) hydrogenation. This allows reactor behavior to be studied in cold-flow experiments, using scaled geometries operated at room temperature, while preserving the relevant hydrodynamic characteristics of the actual reactor. The validity of the similarity law is assessed through a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and cold-flow experiments using a simplified model. The results demonstrate that the scaling based on the proposed similarity law provides a reliable pathway for reproducing and analyzing key flow characteristics of trickle-bed reactors under safe and observable experimental conditions.

Subjects

ColdFlow Experiments

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Flow Similarity

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier

Trickle-Bed Reactors

DDC Class

620: Engineering

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Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental investigations on flow similarity for a simplified test case resembling a LOHC trickle-bed reactor