Numerical study of the coupling between reaction and mass transfer for liquid‐liquid slug flow in square microchannels

While the benefits of miniaturization on processes have been widely demonstrated, its impact on microfluidics and local mechanisms such as mass transfer is still little understood. The coupling between reaction and mass transfer in microchannels is simulated for liquid‐liquid slug flow. First, the extrapolation to confined flow of the classical model used to calculate interfacial mass fluxes in reactive infinite media was studied. This model consists in estimating transferred fluxes between two phases as a function of the enhancement factor E. Its expression depends on the model used to represent interfacial mass transfer. In infinite media, Lewis and Whitman's stagnant film theory is generally preferred for its simplicity and its reliability. In the case of confined slug flow, the limitation of such a model to predict interfacial fluxes is highlighted. Second, the case of liquid‐liquid competitive consecutive reactions in microchannels is considered. The unfavorable impact of the length between droplets on selectivity is emphasized. This is a direct consequence of mass‐transport mechanisms in microchannels. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Effect of interfacial mass transfer on the dispersion in segmented flow in straight capillaries

The effect of interfacial mass transfer on the extent of dispersion in liquid‐liquid segmented flow in straight capillaries is studied. In the absence of interfacial mass transfer, dispersion coefficient was seen to go through a minimum with increasing flow rates. In the presence of mass transfer, physicochemical properties of both the phases and slug lengths were seen to vary along the capillary length. The extent of dispersion was always higher in the presence of interfacial mass transfer. The predictions using axial dispersion model deviated noticeably for larger capillaries as the model does not account for varying buoyancy, dynamic contacting, and Marangoni convection. Simulations of a first‐order interfacial reaction considering varying slug lengths showed a significant change in optimum operating parameters than the conventional approach. A special case of “drop‐on‐demand” type of controlled two‐phase flow in capillaries was also studied. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 4294–4308, 2015     

Heat and mass transfer enhancement in a double diffusive mixed convection lid cavity under pulsating flow

This work assess the effectiveness of the pulsating flow regime for the enhancement of heat and mass transfer in double diffusive problems by studying a two-dimensional, heated, lid cavity. The research characterizes the influence of pulsating parameters such as temporal frequency, wave number and amplitude in the process. Results show that the pulsating regime enhances heat/mass transfer within a square cavity up to a 14%/38% respectively with respect to the non-pulsating case, due to the promotion of additional shear stress fields. As Richardson number, Brownian diffusion or the solute/thermal buoyancy ratio increase or the cavity becomes narrower, heat/mass transfer increases.     

Mass transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics in a co‐current downflow contacting column

Hydrodynamic and mass transfer characteristics of water–air system in a co‐current downflow contacting column (CDCC) were studied for various nozzle diameters at different superficial gas velocities and liquid re‐circulation rates. Gas hold‐up and liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient increased with increasing superficial gas velocity and liquid flow rate but decreased with increasing nozzle diameter. It is shown that correlations developed, which are based on liquid kinetic power per liquid volume present in the column, and superficial gas velocity explains gas hold‐up and the mass transfer coefficient within an error 20% for all gas and liquid flow rates and nozzle diameters used. The constants of correlations for gas hold‐up and mass transfer coefficient were found to be considerably different from other gas–liquid contacting systems. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Numerical study on steady and transient mass/heat transfer involving a liquid sphere in simple shear creeping flow

A numerical method is utilized to examine the steady and transient mass/heat transfer processes that involve a neutrally buoyant liquid sphere suspended in simple shear flow at low Reynolds numbers is described. By making use of the known Stokes velocity field, the convection‐diffusion equations are solved in the three‐dimensional spherical coordinates system. For the mass transfer either outside or inside a liquid sphere, Sherwood number Sh approaches an asymptotic value for a given viscosity ratio at sufficiently high Peclet number Pe. In terms of the numerical results obtained in this work, two new correlations are derived to predict Sh at finite Pe for various viscosity ratios. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 343–352, 2014     

临界条件(0℃)下溶液蒸发冷冻过程中的传质规律

通过对相际间力学特性的分析,结合湍流的流动特征,考虑了冰体存在孔隙和毛细作用,给出了临界条件(0℃)湿度差驱动下溶液蒸发冷冻过程中的质扩散分析模型,并对溶液在不同状态下(液态、液固共存和固态)气流界面间的质扩散变化规律进行了研究,结果表明,随着溶液从液态向固态的转变,其表面质扩散系数逐渐减小,即表面质扩散能力逐渐减弱,因此,对于溶液自身蒸发冻结过程而言,为了强化溶液表面的质传递和冻结,应控制冻结过程中溶液表面的结冰状况。这一研究结果为蒸发冷冻传质的研究以及强化蒸发冻结的工程应用提供了理论指导和参考。     

液体中气泡上浮与传质过程的耦合模型

针对液体中气泡上浮与传质这一非稳态、强耦合过程,分析气泡的受力情况,考虑到非恒定Basset力的影响,得出了气泡瞬态加速度模型;利用绕球流动传质边界层模型,并引入非平衡传质理论,构建了气泡的瞬态非平衡传质模型;进而依据气泡质量变化率将两模型耦合,以此构建了完整描述这一过程的耦合模型。计算实例表明,Basset力对难溶性气泡的运动过程无明显影响,但对易溶性气泡影响显著;传质条件则对两类气泡都具有重要影响,且该模型中引入非平衡传质理论后,计算值与难溶性气泡的实验结果吻合更好。     

EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION AND MODELLING OF LIQUID-SOLID MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS IN A THREE-PHASE REACTOR

Apparent mass transfer coefficients for solid dissolution in a liquid with and without a chemical reaction were experimentally determined in a fixed bed three phases reactor with downward cocurrent gas and liquid flows. The chemical system selected was benzoic acid, sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution, and atmospheric air. Continuous gas, pulse and dispersed bubble regimes were studied and the results were correlated obtaining apparent mass transfer coefficient as a function of liquid and fluid volumetric flow. It was found that gas flow effect on mass transfer coefficient was small over continuous gas and dispersed bubble regimes, but appreciable over pulse regime. Additionally, it was found that the mathematical model that best described the mass transfer process under pulse regime, by using the increment factor due to the instantaneous chemical reaction, is the film theory     

The effect of the size of square microchannels on hydrodynamics and mass transfer during liquid‐liquid slug flow

The present study investigated the influence of square microchannel (MC) size on hydrodynamics and mass transfer in the liquid‐liquid slug flow regime. Three square MCs with the hydraulic diameters of 200, 400, and 600 μm were used. The employed method for estimating mass‐transfer coefficients remarkably increased the accuracy of the results. The findings revealed that decreasing the MC size improved the interfacial area due to plug length enlargement and deteriorated mass‐transfer resistances because of augmented internal circulations, leading to the considerable enhancement of mass‐transfer coefficients. The increasing effect on the overall mass‐transfer coefficient became greater with flow velocity, showing that size effect on mass‐transfer resistances was more profound at higher flow velocities. The influence of size on the interfacial area was significantly greater than that on mass‐transfer resistances due to the significant increment of wall film length with the decrease in channel size. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017     

Influence of Pressure on the Hydrodynamics and Mass Transfer Parameters of an Agitated Bubble Reactor

The present study deals with the pressure effects on the hydrodynamic flow and mass transfer within an agitated bubble reactor operated at pressures between 10⁵ and 100 × 10⁵ Pa. In order to clarify the flow behavior within the reactor, liquid phase residence time distributions (RTD) for different operating pressures and gas velocities ranging between 0.005 m/s and 0.03 m/s are determined experimentally by the tracer method for which a KCl solution is used as a tracer. The result of the analysis of the liquid‐phase RTD curves justifies the tank‐in‐series model flow for the operating pressure range. Good agreement is obtained between theoretical and experimental results assuming the reactor is operating as perfectly mixed. Two parameters characterizing the mass transfer are identified and investigated in respect to pressure: the gas‐liquid interfacial area and volumetric liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient. The chemical absorption method is used. For a given gas mass flow rate, the interfacial area as well as the volumetric liquid mass transfer coefficient decrease with increasing operating pressure. However, for a given pressure, a and k_La increase with increasing gas mass flow rates. The mass transfer coefficient k_L is independent of pressure.     

整体式床层中液体分布与气-液传质的关系

With a particular focus on the connection between liquid flow distribution and gas-liquid mass transfer in monolithic beds in the Taylor flow regime, hydrodynamic and gas-liquid mass transfer experiments were carried out in a column with a monolithic bed of cell density of 50 cpsi with two different distributors (nozzle and packed bed distributors). Liquid saturation in individual channels was measured by using self-made micro-conductivity probes. A mal-distribution factor was used to evaluate uniform degree of phase distribution in monoliths. Overall bed pressure drop and mass transfer coefficients were measured. For liquid flow distribution and gas-liquid mass transfer, it is found that the superficial liquid velocity is a crucial factor and the packed bed distributor is better than the nozzle distributor. A semi-theoretical analysis using single channel models shows that the packed bed distributor always yields shorter and uniformly distributed liquid slugs compared to the nozzle distributor, which in turn ensures a better mass transfer performance. A bed scale mass transfer model is proposed by employing the single channel models in individual channels and incorporating effects of non-uniform liquid distribution along the bed cross-section. The model predicts the overall gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient with a relative error within ±30%.     

Fluid flow and mass transfer in a counter-current gas-liquid inclined tubes photo-bioreactor

A novel type of photo-bioreactor is being studied. The main feature in this system is the inclined tube in which most of the photosynthesis occurs. Two phase gas-liquid counter-current flow takes place in this environment. The flow configuration in the range of interest has not been described previously. The trajectories of the liquid phase are the target of the present work. These trajectories are needed for a proper mathematical representation of the process. Experimental studies where carried out using two methods: studying the response of the system to a pulse disturbance, and tracking an optical tracer with a system developed in our laboratory. The influence of tube inclination and of gas flow rates was studied. A rough compartmental model is presented, which fits the transient experimental data.The mass transfer rate from the gas phase to the liquid was studied since it is needed to assess the capacity of providing enough CO₂ to match the light captured by photosynthesis. Both gas holdup and mass transfer rates are reported as a function of tube inclination and gas flow rates.     

Parallel hydrogenation for the quantification of wetting efficiency and liquid–solid mass transfer in a trickle‐bed reactor

A novel method for the measurement of wetting efficiency in a trickle‐bed reactor under reaction conditions is introduced. The method exploits reaction rate differences of two first‐order liquid‐limited reactions occurring in parallel, to infer wetting efficiencies without any other knowledge of the reaction kinetics or external mass transfer characteristics. Using the hydrogenation of linear‐ and isooctenes, wetting efficiency is measured in a 50‐mm internal diameter, high‐pressure trickle‐bed reactor. Liquid–solid mass transfer coefficients are also estimated from the experimental conversion data. Measurements were performed for upflow operation and two literature‐defined boundaries of hydrodynamic multiplicity in trickle flow. Hydrodynamic multiplicity in trickle flow gave rise to as much as 10% variation in wetting efficiency, and 10–20% variation in the specific liquid–solid mass transfer coefficient. Conversions for upflow operation were significantly higher in trickle‐flow operation, because of complete wetting and better liquid–solid mass transfer characteristics. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011.     

A Parametric Study of Spray Drying of a Solution in a Pulsating High-Temperature Turbulent Flow

Spray drying of a concentrated common salt (NaCl) solution carried out in the intense oscillating high-temperature turbulent flow field generated in the tailpipe of a pulse combustor was simulated. Simulation of such transport process problems is especially crucial since the environmental conditions are too hostile for detailed and reliable measurements. The momentum, heat, and mass transfer processes between the gas and droplet phases during drying were simulated using a computational fluid dynamic solver. The simulated profiles of flow field, temperature, and humidity of gaseous phase, and particle trajectories in a drying chamber are presented and discussed. The effects of gas temperature, pulse frequency and amplitude, and gas mass flow rate on the transient flow patterns, droplet trajectories, and overall dryer performance were investigated. Different turbulence models were also tested. Simulation results show that the flow field and droplet drying conditions vary widely during a single pulsating period. Very short drying times and very high drying rate characterize pulse combustion spray drying. Thus, pulse combustion drying can be applied to drying of fine droplets of highly heat-sensitive materials although the jet temperature initially is extremely high.     

叉流热源塔传热传质模型的建立及实验验证

热源塔作为新型的热质交换设备,在热源塔热泵机组运行过程中起着重要作用。其在冬季运行时从空气中吸收热量,为热泵机组提供低品位热量。热源塔与冷却塔在传热传质上存在一定异同点,指出了冷却塔与热源塔在传热传质上存在热阻、液体物性、潜热换热量比例、循环水/液体流量、飘液对系统的影响、热量传递方向和换热量大小等方面的差异。根据热源塔与冷却塔差异建立叉流热源塔传热传质数学模型,并采用实验验证模型的准确性。结果表明叉流热源塔潜热百分比低于35%,模型结果与实验结果相比换热性能误差低于10%,该模型能够较为精确地对叉流热源塔换热性能进行模拟。     

Correlation between hysteresis of gas-liquid mass transfer and liquid distribution in a trickle bed

The hysteresis of gas-liquid mass transfer rate and the corresponding radial liquiddistribution in a trickle bed reactor are measured to provide evidence for the correlation between thesetwo behaviors.Experimental results indicate that the hysteresis of gas-liquid mass transfer originatesfrom the nonuniformity of the hydrodynamic state of gas-liquid flow and the radial maldistributionof local k_(gia) corresponds very well to the radial maldistribution of liquid flow in the bed.The localliquid flow rate is also found to be nonuniform in the azimuthal direction.In view of maldistributedliquid flow even in the pulsing flow regime,the conventional plug flow model seems oversimplifiedfor describing the behavior of a trickle bed.     

Effect of Superimposed Pulsating Flow on Liquid‐Solid Mass Transfer in Fixed Beds

The liquid‐solid mass transfer behaviour of a fixed bed of cylinders has been studied using the dissolution of copper in acidified dichromate solution under pulsating flow conditions. The bed diameter was 100 mm. The depth of the working section was 95 mm and the length and diameter of the cylinders were 19.1 mm. Variables studied were steady flow superficial liquid velocity, and oscillation amplitude and frequency. Data have been correlated as the Sherwood number in terms of Schmidt number and the cylinder Reynolds numbers for steady and oscillatory flow. The form of the correlation permits comparison with literature data for the limiting cases where either of these Reynolds numbers is zero.     

A Parametric Study of Spray Drying of a Solution in a Pulsating High-Temperature Turbulent Flow

Spray drying of a concentrated common salt (NaCl) solution carried out in the intense oscillating high-temperature turbulent flow field generated in the tailpipe of a pulse combustor was simulated. Simulation of such transport process problems is especially crucial since the environmental conditions are too hostile for detailed and reliable measurements. The momentum, heat, and mass transfer processes between the gas and droplet phases during drying were simulated using a computational fluid dynamic solver. The simulated profiles of flow field, temperature, and humidity of gaseous phase, and particle trajectories in a drying chamber are presented and discussed. The effects of gas temperature, pulse frequency and amplitude, and gas mass flow rate on the transient flow patterns, droplet trajectories, and overall dryer performance were investigated. Different turbulence models were also tested. Simulation results show that the flow field and droplet drying conditions vary widely during a single pulsating period. Very short drying times and very high drying rate characterize pulse combustion spray drying. Thus, pulse combustion drying can be applied to drying of fine droplets of highly heat-sensitive materials although the jet temperature initially is extremely high.     

层流中脉动气流横掠平板强化传热

为研究脉动气流下等热流密度平面的换热特性,搭建了脉动气流强化传热实验台架,进行了不同雷诺数（Re=433～1733）的脉动气流下高温共烧陶瓷发热片组的换热实验研究,脉动气流的脉动频率f固定为30 Hz,脉动振幅prms固定为165 Pa。结果表明,在合适的脉动参数下（f=30 Hz, prms=165 Pa）,脉动气流有效地强化了等热流密度平面的换热性能,本文获得的强化换热效率介于9.7%和10.8%之间,随着雷诺数的增加轻微地线性增加。另外,结果揭示了在层流流动中,不管在稳定气流下还是在脉动气流下,等热流密度平面的换热性能都随着雷诺数的增加而线性地增加,但脉动气流下线性拟合的结果的斜率较大,为稳定气流下的斜率的1.26倍。最后,结果显示了在稳定气流中加入脉动分量能迅速增大换热面下游的温度水平,预示着脉动气流在强化传热的同时,也增强了气流内部的热传递。