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Aqueous‐Phase Reforming in a Microreactor: The Role of Surface Bubbles
Author(s) -
Ripken Renée M.,
Wood Jeffery A.,
Gardeniers Johannes G. E.,
Le Gac Séverine
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201900142
Subject(s) - microreactor , endothermic process , aqueous solution , catalysis , chemical engineering , mass transfer , chemistry , slip (aerodynamics) , heat transfer , materials science , thermodynamics , chemical physics , chromatography , adsorption , organic chemistry , physics , engineering
In heterogeneous catalysis, the creation of gaseous products as bubbles in a liquid phase on the catalytic surface is associated with slip phenomena. In a microreactor, the slip length at the gas‐liquid interface is in the same order of magnitude as the reactor dimensions, which can affect fluid dynamics and transport phenomena. Here, the interplay of momentum, heat and mass transfer in a microreactor, when bubbles form on the catalytic surface, was investigated using two‐dimensional simulations. The effect of bubbles on the endothermic process of aqueous‐phase reforming of a glycerol solution was evaluated in terms of conversion and conversion and temperature in the reactor. Altogether, this study highlights the impact of bubbles, not only on the transport phenomena but also on the reactor performance.