Fixed‐bed adsorption of gases: Effect of velocity variations on transition types

Abstract

Abstract In fixed‐bed adsorption or desorption of gases, velocity variations accompany changes in gas composition, and these variations affect the transition types (spreading waves or shocks). A general criterion is developed for determining the transition type for isothermal monovariant systems (one adsorbable component in inert gas or two adsorbable components with no inert gas). Several examples are given to illustrate the determination of transition types for simple waves, contact discontinuities, shocks, and combined waves.