scholarly journals A Study on the Effect of Flow Unsteadiness on the Yield of a Chemical Reaction in a T Micro-Reactor

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Mariotti ◽  
Matteo Antognoli ◽  
Chiara Galletti ◽  
Roberto Mauri ◽  
Maria Vittoria Salvetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Chemical Reaction ◽  
Reaction Yield ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
Strong Decrease ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Flow Unsteadiness ◽  
Simple Geometry ◽  
Micro Reactor

Despite the very simple geometry and the laminar flow, T-shaped microreactors have been found to be characterized by different and complex steady and unsteady flow regimes, depending on the Reynolds number. In particular, flow unsteadiness modifies strongly the mixing process; however, little is known on how this change may affect the yield of a chemical reaction. In the present work, experiments and 3-dimensional numerical simulations are carried out jointly to analyze mixing and reaction in a T-shaped microreactor with the ultimate goal to investigate how flow unsteadiness affects the reaction yield. The onset of the unsteady asymmetric regime enhances the reaction yield by more than 30%; however, a strong decrease of the yield back to values typical of the vortex regime is observed when the flow undergoes a transition to the unsteady symmetric regime.

scholarly journals Net-exergetic, hydraulic and thermal optimization of coaxial heat exchangers using fixed flow conditions instead of fixed flow rates

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Blanke ◽  
Markus Hagenkamp ◽  
Bernd Döring ◽  
Joachim Göttsche ◽  
Vitali Reger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Circular Ring ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Mass Flow Rates ◽  
Pipe Radius

AbstractPrevious studies optimized the dimensions of coaxial heat exchangers using constant mass flow rates as a boundary condition. They show a thermal optimal circular ring width of nearly zero. Hydraulically optimal is an inner to outer pipe radius ratio of 0.65 for turbulent and 0.68 for laminar flow types. In contrast, in this study, flow conditions in the circular ring are kept constant (a set of fixed Reynolds numbers) during optimization. This approach ensures fixed flow conditions and prevents inappropriately high or low mass flow rates. The optimization is carried out for three objectives: Maximum energy gain, minimum hydraulic effort and eventually optimum net-exergy balance. The optimization changes the inner pipe radius and mass flow rate but not the Reynolds number of the circular ring. The thermal calculations base on Hellström’s borehole resistance and the hydraulic optimization on individually calculated linear loss of head coefficients. Increasing the inner pipe radius results in decreased hydraulic losses in the inner pipe but increased losses in the circular ring. The net-exergy difference is a key performance indicator and combines thermal and hydraulic calculations. It is the difference between thermal exergy flux and hydraulic effort. The Reynolds number in the circular ring is instead of the mass flow rate constant during all optimizations. The result from a thermal perspective is an optimal width of the circular ring of nearly zero. The hydraulically optimal inner pipe radius is 54% of the outer pipe radius for laminar flow and 60% for turbulent flow scenarios. Net-exergetic optimization shows a predominant influence of hydraulic losses, especially for small temperature gains. The exact result depends on the earth’s thermal properties and the flow type. Conclusively, coaxial geothermal probes’ design should focus on the hydraulic optimum and take the thermal optimum as a secondary criterion due to the dominating hydraulics.

Heat transfer enhancement using second mode self-oscillating structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 3827-3842
Author(s):  
Samer Ali ◽  
Zein Alabidin Shami ◽  
Ali Badran ◽  
Charbel Habchi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Nusselt Number ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Laminar Flow Regime ◽  
Second Mode

Purpose In this paper, self-sustained second mode oscillations of flexible vortex generator (FVG) are produced to enhance the heat transfer in two-dimensional laminar flow regime. The purpose of this study is to determine the critical Reynolds number at which FVG becomes more efficient than rigid vortex generators (RVGs). Design/methodology/approach Ten cases were studied with different Reynolds numbers varying from 200 to 2,000. The Nusselt number and friction coefficients of the FVG cases are compared to those of RVG and empty channel at the same Reynolds numbers. Findings For Reynolds numbers higher than 800, the FVG oscillates in the second mode causing a significant increase in the velocity gradients generating unsteady coherent flow structures. The highest performance was obtained at the maximum Reynolds number for which the global Nusselt number is improved by 35.3 and 41.4 per cent with respect to empty channel and rigid configuration, respectively. Moreover, the thermal enhancement factor corresponding to FVG is 72 per cent higher than that of RVG. Practical implications The results obtained here can help in the design of novel multifunctional heat exchangers/reactors by using flexible tabs and inserts instead of rigid ones. Originality/value The originality of this paper is the use of second mode oscillations of FVG to enhance heat transfer in laminar flow regime.

Bifurcation Characteristics of Flows in Rectangular Sudden Expansion Channels

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Battaglia ◽  
George Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Critical Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Sudden Expansion ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Effective Expansion ◽  
Three Dimensional Simulations

The effect of three-dimensionality on low Reynolds number flows past a symmetric sudden expansion in a channel was investigated. The geometric expansion ratio of in the current study was 2:1 and the aspect ratio was 6:1. Both experimental velocity measurements and two- and three-dimensional simulations for the flow along the centerplane of the rectangular duct are presented for Reynolds numbers in the range of 150 to 600. Comparison of the two-dimensional simulations with the experiments revealed that the simulations fail to capture completely the total expansion effect on the flow, which couples both geometric and hydrodynamic effects. To properly do so requires the definition of an effective expansion ratio, which is the ratio of the downstream and upstream hydraulic diameters and is therefore a function of both the expansion and aspect ratios. When the two-dimensional geometry was consistent with the effective expansion ratio, the new results agreed well with the three-dimensional simulations and the experiments. Furthermore, in the range of Reynolds numbers investigated, the laminar flow through the expansion underwent a symmetry-breaking bifurcation. The critical Reynolds number evaluated from the experiments and the simulations was compared to other values reported in the literature. Overall, side-wall proximity was found to enhance flow stability, helping to sustain laminar flow symmetry to higher Reynolds numbers in comparison to nominally two-dimensional double-expansion geometries. Lastly, and most importantly, when the logarithm of the critical Reynolds number from all these studies was plotted against the reciprocal of the effective expansion ratio, a linear trend emerged that uniquely captured the bifurcation dynamics of all symmetric double-sided planar expansions.

Prediction of Chemical Reaction Yield in a Microreactor and Development of a Pilot Plant Using the Numbering-Up of Microreactors

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigenori Togashi ◽  
Yukako Asano ◽  
Yoshishige Endo
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo Simulation ◽  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Chemical Reaction ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Reaction Rate ◽  
Main Product ◽  
Reaction Rate Constant ◽  
Reaction Yield ◽  
Production Scale

The chemical reaction yield was predicted by using Monte Carlo simulation. The targeted chemical reaction of a performance evaluation using the microreactor is the consecutive reaction. The main product P1 is formed in the first stage with the reaction rate constant k1. Moreover, the byproduct P2 is formed in the second stage with the reaction rate constant k2. It was found that the yield of main product P1 was improved by using a microreactor when the ratio of the reaction rate constants became k1/k2 >1. To evaluate the Monte Carlo simulation result, the yields of the main products obtained in three consecutive reactions. It was found that the yield of the main product in cased of k1/k2 >1 increased when the microreactor was uesd. Next, a pilot plant involving the numbering-up of 20 microreactors was developed. The 20 microreactor units were stacked in four sets, each containing five microreactor units arranged. The maximum flow rate when 20 microreactors were used was 1 × 104 mm3/s, which corresponds to 72 t/year. Evaluation of the chemical performance of the pilot plant was conducted using a nitration reaction. The pilot plant was found to capable of increasing the production scale without decreasing the yield of the products.

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