Abstract
In this work, we investigate the gas–solid heat and mass transfer in catalytically activated periodic open cellular structures, which are considered a promising solution for intensification of catalytic processes limited by external transport, aiming at the derivation of suitable correlations. Computational fluid dynamics is employed to investigate the Tetrakaidekahedral and Diamond lattice structures. The influence of the morphological features and flow conditions on the external transport properties is assessed. The strut diameter is an adequate characteristic length for the formulation of heat and mass transfer correlations; accordingly, a power-law dependence of the Sherwood number to the Reynolds number between 0.33 and 0.67 was found according to the flow regimes in the range 1–128 of the Reynolds number. An additional −1.5-order dependence on the porosity is found. The formulated correlations are in good agreement with the simulation results and allow for the accurate evaluation of the external transfer coefficients for POCS.
Highlights
Heterogeneous catalysis plays a fundamental role in the context of process intensification, as new catalytic technologies allow to develop more compact, safe, energy-efficient and environmental-friendly processes
Structured catalysts are considered at the heart of this topic, and have been widely employed for several applications affected by heat and mass transfer limitations.[1−4] Structured catalysts were first introduced in the form of the honeycomb monolith.[5]
periodic open cellular structures (POCS) can be manufactured by advanced 3D printing techniques, which offer the opportunity to optimize the support geometry to tailor the design to the specific application and produce exact replicas of the optimized shapes.[13,16−20] In this view, several unit cell shapes are Special Issue: Giuseppe Storti Festschrift
Summary
Heterogeneous catalysis plays a fundamental role in the context of process intensification, as new catalytic technologies allow to develop more compact, safe, energy-efficient and environmental-friendly processes. Structured catalysts are considered at the heart of this topic, and have been widely employed for several applications affected by heat and mass transfer limitations.[1−4] Structured catalysts were first introduced in the form of the honeycomb monolith.[5] The high porosities of such substrates and the typical laminar flow conditions prevailing in the channels enable substantial reduction of pressure drop with respect to conventional packed beds of catalyst pellets despite very high surface area Because of these features, honeycomb monoliths are the standard catalyst shape in most of the applications related to environmental catalysis.[2] The growing need of high-performing supports with enhanced volumetric transfer rates led, throughout the past decades, to the research of new and more effective solutions. POCS can be manufactured by advanced 3D printing techniques, which offer the opportunity to optimize the support geometry to tailor the design to the specific application and produce exact replicas of the optimized shapes.[13,16−20] In this view, several unit cell shapes are Special Issue: Giuseppe Storti Festschrift
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