Novel Reactor for Exothermic Heterogeneous Reaction Systems: Intensification of Mass and Heat Transfer and Application to Vegetable Oil Epoxidation

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The hydrodynamic cavitation multiphase reactor (HCMR) is emerging as a promising alternative for the intensification of liquid–liquid heterogeneous reactions, but research on HCMR modeling is lacking. In this article, an HCMR model was developed using Prileschajew epoxidation as the model system. First, based on experimental measurements of oil/water two‐phase flow downstream of hydrodynamic cavitation devices, semiempirical correlations were proposed to describe the droplet size and droplet size distribution (DSD) as functions of flow conditions and geometry parameters. Then, with boundary conditions calculated by the DSD correlation, a droplet dynamics simulation in a reaction tank was performed by computational fluid dynamics coupled with population balance model to obtain the two‐phase interfacial area. Finally, the acquired reactor model was substituted into an overall kinetic model, to simulate the epoxidation reaction in HCMR. Model predictions were verified by experimental results measured on an industrial scale HCMR.

f_{d} ()(, \frac{d}{d_{32}}) = \frac{1}{d / d_{32} ∙ σ_{sd} \sqrt{2 normalπ}} italicexp ()(, - \frac{{()(, In ()(, d / d_{32}) - e)}^{2}}{2 σ_{sd}^{2}})

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The reaction time was 6.5 hr, with sampling at regular intervals and analysis concentration of the double bond and epoxy group. The analysis methods were given in our previous work …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Modeling of an industrial scale hydrodynamic cavitation multiphase reactor for Prileschajew epoxidation

Cai

Liu

et al. 2020

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Hydrodynamics and droplet size distribution of liquid–liquid flow in a packed bed reactor with orifice plates

Cai

Wang

et al. 2021

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A packed bed reactor with orifice plates (PBR@OP) was designed by adding orifice plates periodically in packed beds. Hydrodynamics and droplet size distribution in PBR@OP were experimentally investigated using fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)/water as the model liquid–liquid system. In PBR@OP, the flow pattern was close to plug flow. Droplets with Sauter mean diameter (d32) of 150–550 μm were generated. The pressure drop of orifice, flow velocity and plate spacing were key parameters to control the droplet size. The reactor performance was evaluated by analyzing a FAME epoxidation process. At the same d32 and residence time, the length and total pressure drop of PBR@OP were about 1/3 and 1/4 of those of PBR without orifice plates, respectively. Furthermore, a semi‐empirical correlation describing the d32 change in PBR@OP was developed, revealing a relative mean deviation of 8.64%. PBR@OP presents a cost‐effective option for the intensification of liquid–liquid medium rate reactions.

Experimental study on droplet breakup in an orifice jet mixer

Wu,

Cai,

et al. 2023

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The droplet breakups in an orifice jet mixer are studied to gain a deeper understanding of the breakup mechanism and establish breakup models used as population balance model source terms for accurate predictions. The breakup process and details are captured in situ using a high‐speed photomicrography system. Experiments are performed with different levels of pressure drop and mother droplet size. A complete breakup process consists of several different sub‐breakup events, hence the cascade breakup definition is adopted to determine statistical results. High breakup frequency is achieved under high pressure drop and small mother droplet size. The average number of daughter droplets is 102–105 and is positively correlated with the pressure drop and mother droplet size. The daughter droplet size distribution has a tailing phenomenon and is mainly affected by the pressure drop. New breakup models based on the above features are established and predict well with the experimental results.