Convective diffusion of power-law fluids inside ducts with single homogeneous and catalytic wall reactions

Abstract

Analytical solutions are developed for the convective diffusion of power-law fluids in parallel plate and tubular reactors with single homogeneous and catalytic wall reactions. Closed-form expressions for the concentration distribution and Sherwood number valid from the entrance to the exit of the reactors are presented. The problem of solving the equation of conservation of mass was transformed to that of solving an eigenvalue problem using the finite integral transform technique; as many eigenvalues and eigenfunctions as needed are determined using the sign count method. The accuracy of the solutions is established and the effects of the power-law index and homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions parameters on the mass transfer variables are examined.