Micromixing in a Novel Microannular Rotating Bed

Abstract

Microchannel reactors have garnered significant attention in various chemical processes due to their ability to achieve rapid mixing. However, there remains ample opportunity for the development of microchannel reactors with simple structures and high throughput. In this work, we propose a novel microannular rotating bed (MARB) that integrates the high-gravity field and microscale effect to enhance the micromixing efficiency. The Villermaux−Dushman reaction system is employed to investigate the influence of the operating parameters on the mixing performance. The micromixing time of the MARB ranges from 10 −4 to 10 −3 s for low-viscosity Newtonian fluids and from 10 −4 to 10 −2 s for shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluids. In a lab-scale setup, the MARB demonstrates a throughput of 6 L/min, markedly surpassing the capabilities of the existing microchannel reactors. Furthermore, the evaluation of energy dissipation rate underscores the MARB's remarkable energetic efficiency in intensifying mixing processes. The MARB, with its simple design, high throughput capacity, and efficiency, presents a promising alternative for the intensification of mixing across diverse chemical applications.