Hardt S., Ehrfeld W., Hessel V., Vanden Bussche K.M.
Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH, DE
Keywords: computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer enhancement, microreactors, microstructuring techniques
Sate-of-the-art microstructuring techniques allow to model the interface for heat and mass transfer in miniaturized reactions systems on a micrometer scale. In this context, two different approaches for heat transfer enhancement are presented. The ideas put forward rely on entrance flow effects and inertial flows in meandering channels, respectively. It is found that a heat transfer enhancement of at least one order of magnitude can be achieved compared to unstructured channels. On this basis, a miniaturized heat-exchanger reaction system is investigated, where a kinetic model of an endothermic, heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase reaction is used. The miniaturized heat-exchanger reactor, both with and without heat transfer enhancement, is subsequently benchmarked against conventional fixed bed technology. It is shown that, for the reaction system under study, a substantial reduction of the required amount of catalyst can be achieved in microsystems.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2000 International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems
Published: March 27, 2000
Pages: 644 - 647
Industry sector: Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topics: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip, Modeling & Simulation of Microsystems
ISBN: 0-9666135-7-0