Voidage variation in packed beds at small column to particle diameter ratio

Randomly packed beds of equal spheres exhibit damped oscillatory voidage variation in the near wall region. Models reported in literature were found to be lacking in their ability to relate this variation to average bed porosity. The changing mean of the voidage oscillations and deviations from sinusoidal behavior were not described well either. Experimental data and a new radial bed porosity model are presented. Improved radial bed voidage and average bed voidage predictions were demonstrated. It has further been shown that multiple stable packing configurations exist within the same packing mode, which complicates modeling at a small column to particle diameter ratio.