Two-dimensional heat and mass transfer and thermodynamic analyses of porous microreactors with Soret and thermal radiation effects-An analytical approach

Publication date: Available online 1 March 2018 Source:Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification Author(s): Graeme Hunt, Mohsen Torabi, Lilian Govone, Nader Karimi, Amirfarhang Mehdizadeh Transport of heat and mass and the thermodynamics of porous microreactors with thermal diffusion and radiation effects are investigated analytically. The examined configuration includes an axisymmetric, thick-wall microchannel with an iso-flux thermal boundary condition imposed on the external surfaces. The microchannel is filled with porous materials and accommodates a zeroth order homogenous chemical reaction. Internal radiative heat transfer is modelled in addition to heat convection and conduction, while the local thermal non-equilibrium approach is taken within the porous section of the system. The transport of species is coupled with that of heat via the inclusion of thermodiffusion or Soret effect. Two-dimensional heat and mass transfer differential equations are solved analytically. The results are subsequently used to predict the thermodynamic irreversibilities inside the reactor and a thorough analysis of local and total entropy generation rates is performed. Also, the changes in Nusselt number, calculated on the internal walls of the microreactor, versus various parameters are reported. It is shown that the radiation effects can impact the temperature of the solid phase of the porous medium and lead to alteration of Nusselt number. It is further observed...

Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification - March 2, 2018 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research