Modeling of Non-Isothermal Adsorption Process in a Silica Gel Desiccant Packed Bed

Abstract

This study investigated a numerical simulation of a column packed bed using silica gel. This bed is either stationary or steadily rotating, leading to different operation-regeneration schemes. Although models of these systems have already been developed and fitted with available data, they require large number of costly and time-consuming experiment to be applicable. Therefore, the development of a fundamental predictive mathematical model is necessary. The present model is a one-dimensional numerical solution of the conservation equations for heat, water vapor, and adsorbed water inside the silica gel desiccant under the constraint of local equilibrium between the two phases, which is characterized by fundamental sorption isotherms. The system of a non-isothermal adiabatic under constant pressure containing heat and mass transfer phenomena between vapor and solid phases are considered. The numerical results show good agreement with a maximum root of mean square of errors of 6.6% and 9.6% for exit air temperature and humidity, respectively