Computing radial packing properties from the distribution of particle centers

NÉSTOR JAVIER MARIANI; OSVALDO MIGUEL MARTÍNEZ; GUILLERMO FERNANDO BARRETO

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE

Elsevier Science Ltd

Lugar: Oxford, Inglaterra; Año: 2001 vol. 56 p. 5693 - 5707

0009-2509

The relationship between the distribution of particle centers in random beds of uniformly sized spheres and radial properties, in particular radial voidage profiles, is undertaken in this work. To this end, closed expressions for six geometrical quantities related to the intersection of spheres with cylindrical surfaces are presented. The relations to compute radial properties are then expressed in terms of those geometrical quantities and it is shown that for realistic types of particle center distribution, the calculations can be carried out without resorting to simplifying assumptions or numerical integration. The significance of radial profiles of particle surface area is also discussed.