A packed bed has been prepared in a 12 inch diameter pipe with solid cylinder particles having an effective diameter of D(p) = 5 mm and sphericity of 0.83. The bed height is 4 meters. The void fraction/porosity is 0.6. A gas of density 1.83kg/m^3 and a viscosity of 1.5 x 10^-5 Pa.s is pumped through the tower. The volumetric flow rate of the gas at the entrance is 20 m^3/hour. a. Calculate the pressure drop at the exit of the packed bed. b. Comment on the nature of the fluid flow (laminar and turbulent) through the packed bed.