Classical mass/heat transfer operations

Membrane operation is a specific, but not exotic, operation. In fact it is a hybrid of classical heat and mass transfer processes (Figure 4.1). Direct contact mass transfer operations tend to reach equilibrium due to a difference of chemical potential between two phases that are put into contact. In the same way, temperature equilibrium is aimed at during heat transfer operations, for which driving force is a temperature gradient. In contrast, for membrane operations, by using the specific properties of separation of the thin layer material that constitutes the membrane, under the particular driving force that is applied, it is possible to deviate from the equilibrium that prevails at fluid-to-fluid interphase with classical direct contact mass exchange systems and to reorientate the mass transfer properties. In particular, this is the case with classical operations such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), gas separation (GS), pervaporation (PV), dialysis (DI) or electrodialysis (ED), for which a few characteristics are recalled in Table 4.1. 

This ratio of characteristic times represents, in fact, a classical feature used in chemical engineering the number of transfer units (NTU) in heat-transfer processes and Damkohler number in a reactor. Here, this number is generalized as a number of operation units (NOU), including operations such as heat/mass transfer, reactions, physical phenomena or their combination ... 

Multiphase catalytic reactors are employed in nearly 80% of industrial processes with annual global sales of about 1.5 trillion, contributing around 35% of the world s GDP [17]. Microreactors for multiphase reactions are classified based on the contact principles of gas and liquid phases continuous-phase contacting and dispersed-phase contacting [18]. In the former type, the two phases are kept in continuous contact with each other by creating an interface. In the latter case, one fluid phase is dispersed into another fluid phase. In addition, micro trickle bed operation is reported following the path of classical chemical engineering. The study of mass and heat transfer in two-phase flow in micro trickle bed reactors still remains as a less... 

The contents of the present contribution may be outlined as follows. Section 6.2.2 introduces the basic principles of coupled heat and mass transfer and chemical reaction. Section 6.2.3 covers the classical mathematical treatment of the problem by example of simple reactions and some of the analytical solutions which can be derived for different experimental situations. Section 6.2.4 is devoted to the point that heat and mass transfer may alter the characteristic dependence of the overall reaction rate on the operating conditions. Section 6.2.S contains a collection of useful diagnostic criteria available to estimate the influence of transport effects on the apparent kinetics of single reactions. Section 6.2.6 deals with the effects of heat and mass transfer on the selectivity of basic types of multiple reactions. Finally, Section 6.2.7 focuses on a practical example, namely the control of selectivity by utilizing mass transfer effects in zeolite catalyzed reactions. 

Multiple steady-state behavior is a classic chemical engineering phenomenon in the analysis of nonisothermal continuous-stirred tank reactors. Inlet temperatures and flow rates of the reactive and cooling fluids represent key design parameters that determine the number of operating points allowed when coupled heat and mass transfer are addressed, and the chemical reaction is exothermic. One steady-state operating point is most common in CSTRs, and two steady states occur most infrequently. Three stationary states are also possible, and their analysis is most interesting because two of them are stable whereas the other operating point is unstable. 

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