Periodic Open Cellular
Structures are envisioned as potential enhanced
catalyst substrates for heat and mass transfer-limited processes.
To enable their rational design, in this study, we propose a combined
numerical and experimental approach to assess the pressure drop in
the tetrakaidekahedral and diamond lattices since generalized correlations
are not present in the literature. Deviations are observed between
the model predictions available in the literature, which are possibly
due to the different methods of investigation, that is, numerical
on ideal geometries and experimental on reproductions. To reconcile
the two approaches and prevent discrepancies, careful attention is
paid here to the quality of 3D-printed replicas for experimental investigation
to obtain results representative of ideal lattices. Computational
Fluid Dynamics simulations and experiments are then employed together
to cross-validate the results and then to perform a parametric analysis
of the effect of the morphological properties on the pressure drop.
The effect of the cell size and the porosity are discussed, enabling
the derivation of engineering correlations for the prediction of the
pressure drop across the lattices within the range of 1 < Reds < 300. Finally, the performances of lattice materials
are compared with those of conventional structured supports by evaluating
the trade-off between the fluid–solid mass transfer rate and
the pressure drop, which is crucial for several catalytic processes.
Results show that the diamond lattice outperforms other cellular materials
and can outperform ceramic honeycomb monoliths at low Reynolds numbers.