Home About us Contact | |||
Mass Transfer Characteristics (mass + transfer_characteristic)
Selected AbstractsStudy of the Catalytic Layer in Polybenzimidazole-based High Temperature PEMFC: Effect of Platinum Content on the Carbon SupportFUEL CELLS, Issue 2 2010J. Lobato Abstract In this work, the effect of platinum percentage on the carbon support of commercial catalyst for electrodes to be used in a Polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based PEMFC has been studied. Three percentages were studied (20, 40 and 60%). In all cases, the same quantity of PBI in the catalyst layer was added, which is required as a ,binder'. From Hg porosimetry analyses, pore size distribution, porosity, mean pore size and tortuosity of all electrodes were obtained. The amount of mesopores gets larger as the platinum percentage in the catalytic layer decreases, which reduces the overall porosity and the mean pore size and increases the tortuosity. The electrochemical characterisation was performed by voltamperometric studies, assessing the effective electrochemical surface area (ESA) of the electrodes, by impedance spectroscopy (IS), determining the polarisation resistance, and by the corresponding fuel cell measurements. The best results were obtained for the electrodes with a content of 40% Pt on carbon, as a result of an adequate combination of catalytic activity and mass transfer characteristics of the electrode. It has been demonstrated that the temperature favours the fuel cell performance, and the humidification does not have remarkable effects on the performance of a PBI-based polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). [source] The formation of rising liquid thin film on the fluted surface of a horizontal tubeHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 6 2005Li Yan Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of the formation of the rising liquid thin film and its flow characteristics on the fluted surface of a horizontal tube. By analyzing the wetting behaviors of the fluted tube, which was primarily responsible for the formation of the rising liquid thin film, a numerical model of one-phase fluid was established to analyze the distribution of the velocity and thickness of the rising liquid thin film during its evaporation. The behaviors of the flow characteristics were discussed and the results showed that geometric properties of the fluted surface of a horizontal tube and surface tension of the fluid were essential for the formation of a continuous and uniform liquid thin film. Theoretical analysis suggested that the capillary force created by the fluid surface tension was a key value for the formation of the thin film. The heat and mass transfer characteristics of the formed thin film also had an effect on the formation of the rising film. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 34(6): 396,406, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20075 [source] Investigation of multiphase hydrogenation in a catalyst-trap microreactorJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2009S. McGovern BACKGROUND: Multiphase hydrogenation plays a critical role in the pharmaceutical industry. A significant portion of the reaction steps in a typical fine chemical synthesis are catalytic hydrogenations, generally limited by resistances to mass and heat transport. To this end, the small-scale and large surface-to-volume ratios of microreactor technology would greatly benefit chemical processing in the pharmaceutical and other industries. A silicon microreactor has been developed to investigate mass transfer in a catalytic hydrogenation reaction. The reactor design is such that solid catalyst is suspended in the reaction channel by an arrangement of catalyst traps. The design supports the use of commercial catalyst and allows control of pressure drop across the bed by engineering the packing density. RESULTS: This paper discusses the design and operation of the reactor in the context of the liquid-phase hydrogenation of o-nitroanisole to o-anisidine. A two-phase ,flow map' is generated across a range of conditions depicting three flow regimes, termed gas-dominated, liquid-dominated, and transitional, all with distinctly different mass transfer behavior. Conversion is measured across the flow map and then reconciled against the mass transfer characteristics of the prevailing flow regime. The highest conversion is achieved in the transitional flow regime, where competition between phases induces the most favorable gas,liquid mass transfer. CONCLUSION: The results are used to associate a mass transfer coefficient with each flow regime to quantify differences in performance. This reactor architecture may be useful for catalyst evaluation through rapid screening, or in large numbers as an alternative to macro-scale production reactors. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Solid,liquid mass transfer characteristics of an unbaffled agitated vessel with an unsteadily forward,reverse rotating impellerJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Shuichi Tezura Abstract To develop an enhanced form of solid-liquid apparatus, an unbaffled agitated vessel has been constructed, fitted with an agitation system using an impeller whose rotation alternates unsteadily in direction, i.e. a forward-reverse rotating impeller. In this vessel, solid-liquid mass transfer was studied using a disc turbine impeller with six flat blades. The effect of impeller rotation rate as an operating variable on the mass transfer coefficient was evaluated experimentally using various geometrical conditions of the apparatus, such as impeller diameter and height, in relation to the impeller power consumption. Mixing of gas above the free surface into the bulk liquid, i.e. surface aeration, which accompanied the solid-liquid agitation, was also investigated. Comparison of the mass transfer characteristics between this type of vessel and a baffled vessel with a unidirectional rotating impeller underscored the sufficient solid-liquid contact for prevention of gas mixing in the forward-reverse rotation mode of the impeller. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Flow and mass transfer in aerated viscous Newtonian liquids in an unbaffled agitated vessel having alternating forward,reverse rotating impellersJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2001Masanori Yoshida Abstract Flow and mass transfer characteristics in aerated viscous Newtonian liquids were studied for an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel with alternating rotating impellers (AAVAI), ie with multiple forward,reverse rotating impellers having four delta blades. The effects of operating conditions such as gas sparging rate, agitation rate and the number of impeller stages, and the liquid physical properties (viscosity) on the gas hold-up, ,gD, and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient, kLaD were evaluated experimentally. The dependences of ,gD and kLaD on the specific total power input and superficial gas velocity differed, depending on the ranges of liquid viscosity. Empirical relationships are presented for each viscosity range to predict ,gD and kLaD as a function of the specific total power input, superficial gas velocity and viscosity of liquid. Based on a comparative investigation of the volumetric coefficient in terms of the specific total power input between the AAVAI and conventional aerated agitated vessels (CAAVs) having unidirectionally rotating impellers, the usefulness of AAVAI as a gas,liquid agitator treating viscous Newtonian liquids is also discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Flow distribution and mass transfer in a parallel microchannel contactor integrated with constructal distributorsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Jun Yue Abstract Flow distribution and mass transfer characteristics during CO2 -water flow through a parallel microchannel contactor integrated with two constructal distributors have been investigated numerically and experimentally. Each distributor comprises a dichotomic tree structure that feeds 16 microchannels with hydraulic diameters of 667 ,m. It was found that constructal distributors could ensure a nearly uniform gas,liquid distribution at high gas flow rates where the ideal flow pattern was slug-annular flow. Nevertheless, at small gas flow rates where the ideal flow pattern was slug flow, a significant flow maldistribution occurred primarily due to the lack of large pressure barrier inside each distributor, indicating that dynamic pressure fluctuation in parallel microchannels greatly disturbed an otherwise good flow distribution therein. It was further shown that the present parallel microchannel contactor could realize the desired mass transfer performance previously achieved in one single microchannel under relatively wide operational ranges due to the integration of constructal distributors. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] Kinetics of the thermal dissociation of ZnO exposed to concentrated solar irradiation using a solar-driven thermogravimeter in the 1800,2100 K rangeAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Lothar O. Schunk Abstract The two-step H2O-splitting thermochemical cycle based on the Zn/ZnO redox reactions is considered for solar H2 production, comprising the endothermal dissociation of ZnO followed by the exothermal hydrolysis of Zn. A solar-driven thermogravimeter, in which a packed-bed of ZnO particles is directly exposed to concentrated solar radiation at a peak solar concentration ratio of 2400 suns while its weight loss is continuously monitored, was applied to measure the thermal dissociation rate in a set-up closely approximating the heat and mass transfer characteristics of solar reactors. Isothermal thermogravimetric runs were performed in the range 1834,2109 K and fitted to a zero-order Arrhenius rate law with apparent activation energy 361 ± 53 kJ mol,1 K,1 and frequency factor 14.03 × 106 ± 2.73 × 106 kg m,2 s,1. Application of L,vov's kinetic expression for solid decomposition along with a convective mass transport correlation yielded kinetic parameters in close agreement with those derived from experimental data. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a pulsed packed columnTHE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2000Yu Jie Abstract The hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of a pulsed packed column (PPC) filled with a stainless steel super mini ring (SMR), ceramic and stainless steel Raschig rings have been studied using a 30% tributyl phosphate-kerosene (dispersed phase)/acetic acid/water (continuous phase) system. Experiments were performed in a 100 mm internal diameter column with 1.0 m height of packing. The mass transfer and axial mixing parameters were estimated simultaneously from the measured concentration profiles of two-phase based on the backflow model. It was found that pulsation has great influence on hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of PPC with the SMR. Hoxp and Hox decrease significantly with pulsation, whereas flooding velocity decreases only slightly. Comparison among the three types of packing showed that the SMR has superior characteristics both in terms of capacity and mass transfer efficiency. The influence of mass transfer on characteristics of PPC was also studied. New empirical equations of characteristic velocity, Hoxand Hoxd were proposed and good agreement between calculated and experimental data was obtained. Les caractéristiques de l'hydrodynamique et du transfert de matiére dans une colonne pulsée garni (PPC) contenant des super mini-anneaux (SMR) d'acier inoxydable et des anneaux de Raschig de céramique et d'acier inoxydable (s.s.) ont été étudiées à l'aide du système 30% de phosphate de tributyl-kérosène (phase dispersée)/acide acétique/eau (phase continue). On a mené des expériences dans une colonne de 100 mm de diamètre intérieur avec une hauteur de garnissage de 1.0 m. Les paramètres de transfert de matière et de mélange axial ont été estimés simultanément à partir des profils de concentration mesurés de deux phases d'après le modèle de reflux. On a trouvé que la pulsation avait une grande influence sur les caractéristiques de l'hydrodynamique et de transfert de matière de la colonne PPC avec le SMR. Hoxp et Hox diminuent de maniére significative avec la pulsation, tandis que la vitesse d'engorgement ne diminue que Iégèrement. Une comparaison entre les trois types de garnissage montre que le SMR possède des caractéristiques supérieures à la fois en termes de capacité et d'efficacité du transfert de matière. L'influence du transfert de matière sur les caractéristiques de la colonne PPC a également été étudiée. De nouvelles équations empiriques de la vitesse caractéristique, Hox et Hoxd, sont proposées et un bon accord est obtenu entre les données calculées et les données expérhentales. [source] |