Numerical Analysis of the Impact of Particle Friction on Bed Voidage in Fixed‐Beds.

The impact of the static friction coefficient, the initial particle orientation, and the particle height‐to‐diameter ratio on the bed voidage of random packings with a low tube‐to‐particle diameter ratio is investigated for spherical and cylindrical particles using the discrete element method. Based on the numerical results a correlation is proposed to predict the bed voidage as a function of the static friction coefficient and the tube‐to‐particle diameter ratio for spheres, equilateral and non‐equilateral cylinders. This correlation is extended for the use of hollow cylinders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]