Charge dynamics of a methane adsorption storage system: Intraparticle diffusional effects

The charge of natural gas adsorption storage systems is studied numerically, with emphasis given to the impact on its dynamics of intraparticle diffusional resistances to mass transport. Besides adsorption kinetics and thermal effects, the simulation model takes into account both mass transport inside the adsorbent and hydrodynamics of flow through the packed bed. Numerical results are presented for charge with methane of a 50 liter cylindrical reservoir, filled with hypothetical adsorbents with diffusional time constants in the range 10(-3) s(-1) less than or equal to D/R-p(2) less than or equal to infinity, and with the adsorption equilibrium curve of a commercially available activated carbon with a good adsorptive storage capacity. An attempt is made to assemble the charge histories for different values of D/R-p(2) in a single curve by using a modified time scale.