Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.9713/kcer.2015.53.6.818

Analysis on Thermal Effects of Process Channel Geometry for Microchannel Fischer-Tropsch Reactor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics  

Lee, Yongkyu (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Jung, Ikhwan (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Na, Jonggeol (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Park, Seongho (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Kshetrimayum, Krishnadash S. (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Han, Chonghun (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)
Publication Information
Korean Chemical Engineering Research / v.53, no.6, 2015 , pp. 818-823 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, FT reaction in a microchannel was simulated using computational fluid dynamics(CFD), and sensitivity analyses conducted to see effects of channel geometry variables, namely, process channel width, height, gap between process channel and cooling channel, and gap between process channels on the channel temperature profile. Microchannel reactor considered in the study is composed of five reaction channels with height and width ranging from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. Cooling surfaces is assumed to be in isothermal condition to account for the heat exchange between the surface and process channels. A gas mixture of $H_2$ and CO($H_2/CO$ molar ratio = 2) is used as a reactant and operating conditions are the following: GHSV(gas hourly space velocity) = $10000h^{-1}$, pressure = 20 bar, and temperature = 483 K. From the simulation study, it was confirmed that heat removal in an FT microchannel reactor is affected channel geometry variables. Of the channel geometry variables considered, channel height and width have significant effect on the channel temperature profile. However, gap between cooling surface and process channel, and gap between process channels have little effect. Maximum temperature in the reaction channel was found to be proportional to channel height, and not affected by the width over a particular channel width size. Therefore, microchannels with smaller channel height(about less than 2 mm) and bigger channel width (about more than 4 mm), can be attractive design for better heat removal and higher production.
Keywords
Fischer-Tropsch; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Exothermic; Microchannel Geometry; Process Channel; Reactor Internal Temperature;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Kim, H.-J., Choi, D.-K., Ahn, S.-I., Kwon, H. and Lim, H.-W., "Gtl Fpso-an Alternative Solution to Offshore Stranded Gas," Ratio, 1, $H_2O$(2014).
2 Franz, F. and Hans, T., "Process for the Production of Paraffin-hydrocarbons with More Than one Carbon Atom," Google Patents (1930).
3 LeViness, S., Tonkovich, A., Jarosch, K., Fitzgerald, S., Yang, B. and McDaniel, J., "Improved Fischer-tropsch Economics Enabled by Microchannel Technology," White Paper generated by Velocys( 2011).
4 Arzamendi, G., Dieguez, P., Montes, M., Odriozola, J., Falabella Sousa-Aguiar, E. and Gandia, L., "Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Heat Transfer in a Microchannel Reactor for Low-temperature Fischer-tropsch Synthesis," Chem. Eng. J., 160, 915(2010).   DOI
5 Peng, X. and Peterson, G., "The Effect of Thermofluid and Geometrical Parameters on Convection of Liquids Through Rectangular Microchannels," Int. J. Therm. Sci., 38, 755(1995).
6 Na, J., Jung, I., Kshetrimayum, K. S., Park, S., Park, C. and Han, C., "Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Channel Geometric Effect for Fischer-tropsch Microchannel Reactor," Korean Chem. Eng. Res., 52, 826(2014).   DOI
7 Van Der Laan, G. P. and Beenackers, A., "Kinetics and Selectivity of the Fischer-tropsch Synthesis: A Literature Review," Catalysis Reviews, 41, 255(1999).   DOI
8 Tonkovich, A. L., Yuschak, T., Neagle, P. W., Marco, J. L., Marco, J. D., Marchiando, M. A., Keyes, L. W., Deshmukh, S. and Luzenski, R. J., "Laminated, Leak-resistant Chemical Processors; Methods of Making, and Methods of Operating," Google Patents(2012).
9 Zhu, X., Lu, X., Liu, X., Hildebrandt, D. and Glasser, D., "Heat Transfer Study with and Without Fischer-tropsch Reaction in a Fixed Bed Reactor with tio2, sio2, and Sic Supported Cobalt Catalysts," Chem. Eng. J., 247, 75(2014).   DOI
10 Sousa-Aguiar, E. F., Noronha, F. B. and Faro Jr, A., "The Main Catalytic Challenges in Gtl (gas-to-liquids) Processes," Catalysis Science & Technology, 1, 698(2011).   DOI
11 Van Loenhout, A., Van Zeelenberg, L., Roth, G., van Sheehan, E. and Jannasch, N., "Commercialization of Stranded Gas with a Combined Oil and Gtl Fpso," Offshore Technology Conference, Offshore Technology Conference(2006).
12 Wilhelm, D., Simbeck, D., Karp, A. and Dickenson, R., "Syngas Production for Gas-to-liquids Applications: Technologies, Issues and Outlook," Fuel Process. Technol., 71, 139(2001).   DOI
13 Iglesia, E., "Design, Synthesis, and Use of Cobalt-based Fischer-tropsch Synthesis Catalysts," Appl. Catal. A: Gen., 161, 59(1997).   DOI
14 Keyser, M. J., Everson, R. C. and Espinoza, R. L., "Fischer-tropsch Kinetic Studies with Cobalt-manganese Oxide Catalysts," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 39, 48(2000).   DOI
15 Almeida, L., Echave, F., Sanz, O., Centeno, M., Arzamendi, G., Gandia, L., Sousa-Aguiar, E., Odriozola, J. and Montes, M., "Fischer-tropsch Synthesis in Microchannels," Chem. Eng. J., 167, 536(2011).   DOI
16 Knochen, J., Guttel, R., Knobloch, C. and Turek, T., "Fischer-tropsch Synthesis in Milli-structured Fixed-bed Reactors: Experimental Study and Scale-up Considerations," Chem. Eng. Process: Process Intensification, 49, 958(2010).   DOI
17 Gumuslu, G. and Avci, A. K., "Parametric Analysis of Fischer-tropsch Synthesis in a Catalytic Microchannel Reactor," AIChE J., 58, 227(2012).   DOI
18 Davis, B. H., "Fischer-tropsch Synthesis: Overview of Reactor Development and Future Potentialities," Top. Catal., 32, 143(2005).   DOI
19 Vosloo, A. C., "Fischer-tropsch: A Futuristic View," Fuel Process. Technol., 71, 149(2001).   DOI
20 Deshmukh, S. R., Tonkovich, A. L. Y., Jarosch, K. T., Schrader, L., Fitzgerald, S. P., Kilanowski, D. R., Lerou, J. J. and Mazanec, T. J., "Scale-up of Microchannel Reactors for Fischer-tropsch Synthesis," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 49, 10883(2010).   DOI
21 Hasan, M. I., Rageb, A., Yaghoubi, M. and Homayoni, H., "Influence of Channel Geometry on the Performance of a Counter Flow Microchannel Heat Exchanger," Int. J. Therm. Sci., 48, 1607(2009).   DOI
22 Guo, Z.-Y. and Li, Z.-X., "Size Effect on Microscale Single-phase Flow and Heat Transfer," Int. J. Therm. Sci., 46, 149 (2003).