Loading...

Reduction of production rate in y-shaped microreactors in the presence of viscoelasticity

Helisaz, H ; Sharif University of Technology

766 Viewed
  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.08.041
  3. Abstract:
  4. The viscoelasticity effects on the reaction-diffusion rates in a Y-shaped microreactor are studied utilizing the PTT rheological model. The flow is assumed to be fully developed and considered to be created under a combined action of electroosmotic and pressure forces. In general, finite-volume-based numerical simulations are conducted to handle the problem; however, analytical solutions based on the depthwise averaging approach are also obtained for the case for which there is no reaction between the inlet components. The analytical solutions are found to predict accurate results when the width to height ratio is at least 10 and acceptable results for lower aspect ratios. An investigation of the viscoelasticity effect reveals that it is accompanied by a significant reduction of the production rate and the production efficiency, defined as the ratio of the average product concentration to the inlet concentration of the limiting reactant. In addition, this effect gives rise to a more uniform transport with more symmetric concentration distributions. The pressure effects on the reaction-diffusion rates are also pronounced in the presence of viscoelasticity. Finally, the influences of the product diffusivity are investigated for the first time revealing that the lower it is the thinner the area of significant production becomes. © 2017 Elsevier B.V
  5. Keywords:
  6. Lab-on-a-chip ; Microreactor ; Numerical modeling ; Viscoelastic fluids ; Aspect ratio ; Chemical reactors ; Diffusion ; Diffusion in liquids ; Lab-on-a-chip ; Numerical models ; Pressure effects ; Reaction rates ; Concentration distributions ; Electroosmotic flow ; Inlet concentration ; Product concentration ; Production efficiency ; Rheological modeling ; Viscoelasticity ; Analytic method ; Analytical equipment ; Chemical reaction ; Electric potential ; Electroosmosis ; Flow kinetics ; Flow rate ; Mathematical computing ; Mathematical parameters ; Priority journal ; Simulation ; Viscoelasticity
  7. Source: Analytica Chimica Acta ; Volume 990 , 2017 , Pages 121-134 ; 00032670 (ISSN)
  8. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003267017310395