Pressure drop across a packed bed

[SamJ10]

I have a packed bed with an inlet pressure of 108psig and an outlet pressure of 88psig to give a total pressure drop of 20psi. The packing is becoming damaged due to the 20psi pressure drop. I have thought and looked for an answer for a long while, why does the packing only experience the pressure drop and not the 108psig entering the tank?

 

[Astronuc]

I have a packed bed with an inlet pressure of 108psig and an outlet pressure of 88psig to give a total pressure drop of 20psi. The packing is becoming damaged due to the 20psi pressure drop. I have thought and looked for an answer for a long while, why does the packing only experience the pressure drop and not the 108psig entering the tank?

The pressure drop is the result of shear (friction and viscous) forces between the fluid and the packing material. Is the fluid passing through the packing bed gas or liquid?

 

[SamJ10]

Liquid: Water about 60-70 degrees F
So the packing is experiencing the friction between it and the water, which we see as a pressure drop across the bed. The higher the pressure drop, the more shear forces exist, and possible damage to the packing will occur?