Flow uniformity data on 3D printed flow distributors

Abstract

Micro-chemical plants are chemical plants that use micrometrics structures by performing a numbering-up of microdevices. The flow distributor is responsible for the uniform distribution through these microdevices. Inadequate designs reduce the plant performance. Thus, 3D printing is a good alternative to allow fast and economic development for design tests. The present research applied 3D printing to manufacture flow distributors and evaluated the flow uniformity from experimental tests. This data article presents values of the non-uniformity flow coefficient (Ф) of three distinct distributors: the rectangular distributor (RD), the conical distributors with obstacle (CDO) and the conical distributor without obstacle (CD). The distributors were tested in water flow and at low flow rates, it was observed a flow maldistribution, related to the presence of air bubbles. For high flow rates the Ф reduced to values below 1%. The results presented here were used to validate the numerical simulations of flow distributors for numbering-up of biodiesel synthesis in micro and millidevices, “CFD analysis of flow distributor designs for numbering-up of biodiesel synthesis” [1].