Experimental investigations into the adsorption enhancement in packed beds using Z-Annular flow configuration

Annular packed bed structures have the potential to overcome limitations of conventional fully packed bed types by offering radial distribution of airflow within them to enhance fluid-solid contact during adsorption and also to minimize pressure drops. In this paper, Z-annular flow configuration is experimentally investigated to evaluate its potential to enhance adsorption. Three typical diametrical ratios (Do/Di) corresponding to 2, 2.35 and 3.08, inferred from literature were used to investigate the adsorption performance of the Z-annular flow arrangement and compared with adsorption performance of a conventionally configured fully packed bed system of similar dimensions. The results showed the Z-annular flow configurations did perform better by achieving bed temperature reductions averaging between 4.22 and 5.47 °C than conventional configuration types. Pressure drops were however observed to be relatively higher in the Z-annular flow configuration bed types than the conventional fully packed bed type due to the endplate in the Z-annular flow configuration impeding the airflow and subsequently causing flow reversal. Overall, the Z-annular flow configuration was found to have the potential to enhance the adsorption capacity of packed beds however further investigation on optimum parameters for this enhancement may be required.