Chemical Engineering Research & Design最新文献

{"title":"Hydrodynamic control of nanoparticle formation in microfluidic systems: coupling mixing-residence time and geometry effects","authors":"Cong Chao,&nbsp;Chunxia Mei,&nbsp;Enshi Wang,&nbsp;Kai Zhang,&nbsp;Xianfeng Fan,&nbsp;Xuewei Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organic nanoparticle formation in continuous microfluidic solvent-antisolvent systems is strongly influenced by the coupling between micromixing and hydrodynamic residence time, yet the combined effects of flow conditions and channel architecture on particle size and dispersity remain insufficiently understood. Here, a laminar flow model coupled with dilute species transport is developed to elucidate the influence of flow rate ratio (FRR), total flow rate (TFR), and microchannel geometry on micromixing performance and nanoparticle characteristics. A normalized timescale based on the competition between mixing time and residence time is introduced to describe hydrodynamic control of mixing. Numerical simulations reveal geometry-dependent optimal operating regimes: Y-model microchannel achieves maximum mixing efficiency (M* = 0.971) at FRR = 1:10, while SAR microchannel exhibits optimal performance at FRR = 1:5 due to enhanced transverse transport. A non-monotonic dependence of mixing efficiency and particle size on TFR is observed, resulting from competing effects of residence time and convective transport. Experimental synthesis of benzophenone nanoparticles is consistent with the simulated trends. The results demonstrate that microchannel geometry and flow conditions jointly regulate micromixing behaviour and particle formation, providing a basis for rational design of continuous microfluidic nanoparticle production processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 471-483"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148636984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Constraint-informed reinforcement learning in feedback control of nonlinear processes: A tutorial overview and a new design","authors":"Arthur Khodaverdian,&nbsp;Xiaodong Cui,&nbsp;Panagiotis D. Christofides","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.018","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Process control systems operate with strict constraints that are necessary for optimal and safe process operation. To ensure the satisfaction of these constraints, nonlinear constrained optimal control techniques such as model predictive control are typically deployed; however, these iterative schemes are computationally expensive, limiting the scalability of the framework. Alternatively, neural network-based control methods provide a lightweight approach to approximate constrained optimal control, but lack closed-loop stability guarantees. Although methods exist that inject differentiable but non-trainable operations such as quadratic programming problems into neural networks in the form of implicit layers, such methods ensure constraint satisfaction but fail to enable constraint-informed training. Under strict constraints, these layers yield zero gradients in the violation direction, which nullifies the neural network controller’s ability to learn the impact of constraint violations on its objective. Additionally, these layers reintroduce iterative algorithms, and thus the computational feasibility concerns.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This work explores a lightweight means of ensuring that stability guarantees are inherently satisfied by neural network-based control policies while also allowing for approximate constraint violation impacts to be learned. Whereas constraint satisfaction can be ensured by external projection, the resulting effective policy would be suboptimal relative to a policy that is trained to optimize the objective while strictly satisfying constraints. Quadratic programming layers allow for constraints to be enforced inside neural networks as a differentiable layer, thereby allowing for constrained optimization during training, but suffer from zero gradients when constraint violations such as control actuator bounds are encountered during the forward pass. We propose an alternative approach that uses the Heaviside step function with a softplus-based straight-through estimator to yield a gating mechanism that enforces a Lyapunov-based stability constraint through internal control fallback. This fallback-based gating mechanism allows for non-zero gradients during constraint violations and, under sufficient constraint satisfaction, exhibits minimal mismatch between the forward and backward pass. Additionally, since the constraint enforcement is done through a simple gate, there is no significant computational impact as would be true in the quadratic programming layer approach. Our approach allows for the network to both enforce the constraint internally while also learning via gradients how this constraint enforcement impacts the objective and consequently how to adjust weights to optimize the objective while satisfying the constraints.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To demonstrate this, Actor-Critic reinforcement learning is used with the proposed gating mechanism integrated into the Actor. A quadratic programming-based reference is designed for compari","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 654-697"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental investigation of incipient agglomeration at the border to coating in spray fluidized bed by a particle counting method","authors":"Ali Kaabi,&nbsp;Torsten Hoffmann,&nbsp;Evangelos Tsotsas","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work develops and validates an optical particle counting method (OPCM) that yields class-resolved fractions and rates for primary particles, dimers, and larger agglomerates in a spray fluidized bed (SFB). Counting method robustness was ensured by statistical convergence (at least 1000 randomized images per sample, corresponding to <span><math><mrow><mo>&gt;</mo><mn>1</mn><msup><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> counted objects), which stabilized class fractions and reduced orientation-related bias in 2D images. Counting method reliability was further assessed using the stoichiometric ratio (SR) between monomer consumption and dimer formation: SR increased above the theoretical value of 2 as larger agglomerates accumulated, while any <span><math><mrow><mi>SR</mi><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> was identified as non-physical and indicative of counting/classification error. The class-resolved kinetics were sensitive to operating parameters: increasing binder spray rate and binder concentration increased monomer depletion and dimer/agglomerate formation rates, whereas reducing inlet air temperature accelerated agglomeration. Finally, threshold-based post-processing of dynamic image analysis (DIA) data was evaluated; equivalent-area diameter provided the most suitable descriptor for thresholding, but thresholds based on microscopy analysis produced rate deviations and, in some cases, non-physical SR values due to class overlap. Calibrating thresholds against OPCM improved agreement and enables rapid screening, while OPCM remains necessary at selected operating points where higher accuracy and temporal resolution are required for mechanistic interpretation and rate determination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 753-767"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two-stage Wasserstein metric-based distributionally robust scheduling for ethylene plants under price uncertainty","authors":"Chenhan Zhang,&nbsp;Zhenlei Wang,&nbsp;Chenge Du,&nbsp;Baojiang Li,&nbsp;Guochu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An ethylene cracking system comprises multiple parallel furnaces operating in inherent cracking–decoking cycles, making the scheduling of cyclic furnace operations a key determinant of plant profitability. Meanwhile, exogenous fluctuations in product prices driven by market supply–demand conditions and production costs significantly affect the economic performance of scheduling decisions. Therefore, this paper develops a new two-stage Wasserstein distributionally robust scheduling framework. The Wasserstein metric is employed to construct the data-driven ambiguity set that describes all possible probability distributions of uncertainty. Afterwards, the kernel density estimation algorithm is utilized to design the data-driven support set, further mitigating the adverse effects of outliers. By introducing the ambiguity set and support set, a tractable mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is re-derived based on the duality theory. A practical case study shows that the proposed method can effectively hedge against price uncertainty, and the obtained robust scheduling yields the daily profit of <span><math><mrow><mn>8.639</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>1</mn><msup><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>6</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> RMB/day.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 858-865"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization of low-grade bauxite: A review on desilication technologies and a novel Chlorination-Bayer method","authors":"Yutong Hua,&nbsp;Ting-an Zhang,&nbsp;Yan Liu,&nbsp;Chen Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.06.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.06.042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the burgeoning growth of the aluminum industry, coupled with the depletion of high-quality bauxite resources, has intensified the quest for alternative raw materials. This is particularly imperative in light of the \"dual carbon\" policy and stringent environmental regulations governing the national aluminum oxide industry. While low-quality bauxite resources are abundantly available, their high silicon impurity content poses several challenges. These include equipment scaling, compromised product quality, and the generation of substantial red mud, all of which are incongruent with the current Bayer process. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the occurrence and behavior of impurity Si in bauxite, as well as technologies for its removal, outlining the strengths and limitations of each method. Nevertheless, these techniques are seldom employed in industrial applications due to their intricate processes, elevated energy costs, and demanding equipment operational requirements. In line with the principles of sustainable development and emphasizing resource recycling and high-value utilization, this paper introduces a novel \"Chlorination-Bayer method\" for extracting metallurgical-grade aluminum oxide from low-quality bauxite. This approach exhibits robust adaptability to diverse raw materials, concurrently recovering strategic rare metals like lithium, gallium, and scandium, and eliminating wastes generation, thereby affirming its environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 566-579"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intrinsic kinetics of CO2 methanation over a nickel-based catalyst: Experimental insights and model optimization","authors":"Marta Sousa,&nbsp;J.A. Martins,&nbsp;C. Rocha,&nbsp;M.A. Soria,&nbsp;F. Brandani,&nbsp;R. Schmidt,&nbsp;Luís M. Madeira","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanism of CO₂ methanation remains unclear due to its strong dependence on catalyst properties, while understanding its kinetics is essential for process optimization, with studies ranging from empirical models to mechanistic approaches like the Hougen-Watson formalism. This study investigates the intrinsic kinetics of CO₂ methanation over a new commercial nickel-based catalyst supported on alumina, specifically designed for this reaction, evaluating its performance under different conditions of temperature, pressure and feed compositions. The kinetic model was defined for a temperature range of 250 °C to 400 °C and a pressure range of 1–6 bar. Different feed compositions were tested where the H₂/CO₂ ratio varied between 1.6 and 9.0, and the effect of the reaction’s products (H₂O and CH₄) was also studied by introducing them into the feed_.</div><div>Seven kinetic models from literature were optimized against experimental data using an optimization algorithm, using Python and MATLAB optimization algorithms. Among these, two models accurately predicted CO₂ conversion across a wide range of conditions. The first model, based on a mechanistic approach, effectively captured the complexity of the reaction network, including CO formation as a byproduct. The second model, an empirical power-law, exhibited strong predictive capability. However, this model did not account for CO formation, which is a significant limitation, but under certain conditions, for example, of higher CO₂ conversion, it is more effective and much simpler, allowing a better prediction of CO₂ conversion and CH₄ formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 829-844"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasma pyrolysis for valorizing petrochemical residues: Technical advances, commercial pathways, and circular economy integration — A critical review","authors":"Alberto Boretti","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global energy system remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels (86.6% of 592 EJ in 2024), creating an urgent need to mitigate hazardous refining residues. This critical review evaluates plasma pyrolysis as a potential decarbonization tool that converts these wastes into valuable products with minimal emissions. Thermal plasma achieves &gt; 99% volume reduction via extreme temperatures in laboratory studies, while non-thermal plasma (NTP) consumes up to 95% less energy (referring to discharge power in laboratory-scale methane studies; this advantage has not been validated for liquid residue feedstocks) while producing hydrogen and carbon materials. The oxygen-starved environment eliminates most toxic emissions, enabling near-zero direct CO₂ hydrogen production, though NOx from fuel-bound nitrogen remains possible. For liquid refinery residues, no direct energy efficiency comparison between NTP and thermal plasma exists in the peer-reviewed literature; all reported advantages for NTP are extrapolated from methane or light hydrocarbon studies. Hypothesized NTP energy efficiency advantages in laboratory settings (for methane/light feeds) translate to an estimated 30–50% lower capital costs than thermal alternatives in conceptual studies that assume methane-like feedstocks and have not been validated for heavy residues, with co-produced hydrogen adding an estimated $25–50 per ton of carbon black in revenue for typical heavy residues (assuming 0.05–0.10 kg H₂/kg CB at $3000–5000/t H₂). Coupling with renewable microgrids could theoretically achieve 90–95% clean energy penetration in favorable locations, reducing carbon intensity by over 90% and positioning plasma pyrolysis as a dispatchable load for grid stabilization — though no such integrated facility has been demonstrated. An illustrative calculation for a conceptual 50,000 t/yr facility suggests it could avoid approximately 172,500–290,000 t CO₂e annually under a single illustrative baseline (e.g., displacing landfill, conventional carbon black, and SMR hydrogen; these figures are highly speculative and depend on multiple assumptions not validated commercially). Compared to molten metal, catalytic, and electrochemical alternatives, plasma technology offers distinctive feedstock flexibility for refinery integration, but no commercial-scale facility processes liquid refinery residues via plasma pyrolysis; the technology readiness level remains at TRL 4–6 (laboratory to pilot demonstration) for this specific application. By synthesizing process efficiencies, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis with appropriate caveats, this review demonstrates that plasma pyrolysis serves as a promising bridge between today's hydrocarbon economy and a low-carbon, materials-focused circular future — provided that substantial technical and economic hurdles can be overcome at commercial scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 717-731"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coaxial gas-liquid jet breakup in venturi scrubbers: Multibag morphological transitions, length scaling with momentum flux ratio, and morphology-dependent atomization characteristics using visual experiments and numerical simulations","authors":"Fuwei Lv,&nbsp;Tao Zhang,&nbsp;Bingjie Wang,&nbsp;Xunzhang Li,&nbsp;Xinsheng Hu,&nbsp;Dushang Zhang,&nbsp;Yu Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Venturi scrubbers are extensively utilized in the chemical industries. However, the jet breakup mechanism within such confined geometries still remains unclear. This research integrates experiments and simulations to explore the breakup morphology, length, and atomization of coaxial gas - liquid jets in a venturi tube. High - speed imaging uncovers four hierarchical regimes (Rayleigh, bag, membrane - fiber, fiber), where the intensity escalates with the increase in gas flow rate. Quantitatively, at an equivalent momentum flux ratio (<em>M</em>), the critical Weber numbers for each regime are 45–99% lower compared to those in open space. When <em>M</em> = 0.01, the jet attains the fiber - type in the venturi, whereas it only reaches the Rayleigh - type in open space. For <em>M</em> ∈ (0, 0.3), an empirical correlation for the average breakup length is <span><math><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mover><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><mo>̅</mo></mover></mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mtext>l</mtext></mrow></msub></mrow></mfrac><mtext>=</mtext><mn>22.5</mn><mtext>∙</mtext><msup><mrow><mi>M</mi></mrow><mrow><mtext>-</mtext><mn>0.25</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> (R² = 0.94). The converging section generates a radial velocity towards the centerline, functioning as a lateral perturbation that intensifies flapping and facilitates the bag - type even when <em>M</em> &lt; 0.08. CFD - DPM simulations demonstrate distinct atomization: the Fiber - type produces the finest droplets, while the Membrane - fiber provides favorable droplet coverage across sections and is more suitable for industrial applications, as it balances efficiency and pressure drop (the pressure drop increases by 61.5% as the gas flow rises from 100 to 180 m³/h). These results offer multi - dimensional evidence for the design and optimization of venturi scrubbers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 580-593"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148636982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrodynamics of a continuous mixer-settler system at high organic to aqueous phase ratios","authors":"Mihir Moghe,&nbsp;Ashwin W. Patwardhan","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates separation efficiency and entrainment in a continuous settler at high continuous-to-dispersed phase ratios.</div><div>The effects of fluid properties (phase density, viscosity, and interfacial tension) and operating conditions (inlet phase ratio, droplet size, flow rate, and settling area) were examined using two liquid-liquid systems. The specific settling rate (SSR) was calculated based on the volumetric flow rate and the cross-sectional area of the settling zone. It was observed that an increase in droplet size from 150 microns to 200 microns resulted in a 15–30% change in separation efficiency. Increasing the SSR from 1 m³/hr/m² to 2 m³/hr/m² reduced the separation efficiency by 10% and 30% across the respective systems, also highlighting the effect of the respective system’s fluid properties. The high phase ratios were observed to directly affect both separation efficiency and entrainment due to the absence of a dispersion band. Systemic parameter sensitivity was greater at higher phase ratios (20:1 and 50:1) compared to lower phase ratios (10:1), due to reduced binary coalescence between droplets. The effect of the interfacial tension was observed through the Ohnesorge number. Finally, an empirical correlation was developed from the experimental data to predict the system's separation efficiency and entrainment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 797-812"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitigating flow maldistribution in random packed beds of spheres via wall corrugation","authors":"Paweł Niegodajew,&nbsp;Michał Wilczyński,&nbsp;Artur P. Durajski,&nbsp;Maciej Marek","doi":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cherd.2026.07.027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work investigates how sinusoidal container wall corrugation can mitigate flow maldistribution in randomly packed beds of monodisperse spheres. Using a validated numerical framework that couples a particle packing generator with pore scale CFD, we analyse beds with container-to-particle diameter ratios from 6 to 15. The selected corrugation parameters are shown to disrupt the characteristic near-wall particle layering, flatten the radial void fraction profile, and strongly suppress the associated flow velocity oscillations. The resulting flow field is more homogeneous, with high-velocity regions fragmented and distributed more evenly across the container cross-section. An entropy-based measure, adapted to the velocity distribution, quantifies this homogenisation, showing a clear increase in disorder for the effective corrugation. Pressure drop reductions of order of 10% are observed, linked to a slight increase in global void fraction. The study demonstrates that simple, regular wall corrugation is an effective passive strategy for improving flow uniformity in narrow packed beds without complex internal modifications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10019,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Research & Design","volume":"232 ","pages":"Pages 515-528"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148636980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}