Diffusion laminar flow

Under the diffusive laminar flow conditions, the ability to add reagents at specific locations or times leads to the unique ability to control and monitor the spatial and temporal domain of dynamic chemical processes. This attribute has some analogies with the control exerted on biochemical reactions by the micron-scale structures of living cells. Ex-... 

Of these three mechanisms, i.e. molecular diffusion, laminar flow and Knudsen diffusion, only two are important in pressure-driven separations. These are laminar flow and Knudsen diffusion. These can be qualitatively understood as follows. If the molecules "see each other much more than they see the pore wall (which means the mean free path of the molecules is much smaller than the mean pore radius), laminar ow a molecular diffusion are important. The laminar flow is much larger, howcver, nd thelhdlecular flow can be neglected (Present and de Bethune 1949). If the molecules see the pore wall much more than they see each other, only Knudsen diffusion will occur. Thus, the molecular diffusion can be neglected in all circumstances. From now on it will be assumed, that only laminar flow and Knudsen diffusion occur. 

Laminar flow reactors are equipped with microstructured reaction chambers that have the desired low Reynolds numbers due to their small dimensions. Mass transport perpendicular to the laminar channel flow is dominated by diffusion, a phenomenon known as dispersion. Without the influence of diffusion, laminar flow reactors could not be used in heterogeneous catalysis. There would be no mass transport from the bulk flow to the walls as laminar flow, in contrast to turbulent flow, cannot mix the flow macroscopically. 

Turbulent and laminar mixing are quite different. Turbulent mixing takes place by three mechanisms turbulent eddy motion, bulk or convective flow, and molecular diffusion. Laminar flow has no eddies to assist in mixing. Laminar mixing first depends on creating very thin layers between initially unmixed components, followed by molecular diffusion. 

In all following calculations, we assume that the flow is laminar and not turbulent. In laminar flow, the different layers do not mix due to hydrodynamic flow. Mixing is possible only by diffusion. Laminar flow dominates if the inertial components of the flow are low compared to frictional effects. Inertial forces become apparent due to the transformation from the comoving to the laboratory reference frame. They are represented by the term q(7 V)7, which is a force density in N m. If we denote a typical velocity by v and I is the length scale over which the velocity changes, we can approximate V7 v/I and q(7 V)7 qv /L... 

Hannart, B. and Hoplinger, E.J., 1998. Laminar flow in a rectangular diffuser near Hele-Sliaw conditions - a two dinien.sioiial numerical simulation. In Bush, A. W., Lewis, B. A. and Warren, M.D. (eds), Flow Modelling in Industrial Processes, cli. 9, Ellis Horwood, Chichester, pp. 110-118. 

When a sample is injected into the carrier stream it has the rectangular flow profile (of width w) shown in Figure 13.17a. As the sample is carried through the mixing and reaction zone, the width of the flow profile increases as the sample disperses into the carrier stream. Dispersion results from two processes convection due to the flow of the carrier stream and diffusion due to a concentration gradient between the sample and the carrier stream. Convection of the sample occurs by laminar flow, in which the linear velocity of the sample at the tube s walls is zero, while the sample at the center of the tube moves with a linear velocity twice that of the carrier stream. The result is the parabolic flow profile shown in Figure 13.7b. Convection is the primary means of dispersion in the first 100 ms following the sample s injection. 

Eddy diffusion as a transport mechanism dominates turbulent flow at a planar electrode ia a duct. Close to the electrode, however, transport is by diffusion across a laminar sublayer. Because this sublayer is much thinner than the layer under laminar flow, higher mass-transfer rates under turbulent conditions result. Assuming an essentially constant reactant concentration, the limiting current under turbulent flow is expected to be iadependent of distance ia the direction of electrolyte flow. 

The stagnant-film model discussed previously assumes a steady state in which the local flux across each element of area is constant i.e., there is no accumulation of the diffusing species within the film. Higbie [Trans. Am. Jn.st. Chem. Eng., 31,365 (1935)] pointed out that industrial contactors often operate with repeated brief contacts between phases in which the contact times are too short for the steady state to be achieved. For example, Higbie advanced the theory that in a packed tower the liquid flows across each packing piece in laminar flow and is remixed at the points of discontinuity between the packing elements. Thus, a fresh liquid surface is formed at the top of each piece, and as it moves downward, it absorbs gas at a decreasing rate until it is mixed at the next discontinuity. This is the basis of penetration theoiy. 

Concentration and temperature differences are reduced by bulk flow or circulation in a vessel. Fluid regions of different composition or temperature are reduced in thickness by bulk motion in which velocity gradients exist. This process is called bulk diffusion or Taylor diffusion (Brodkey, in Uhl and Gray, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 48). The turbulent and molecular diffusion reduces the difference between these regions. In laminar flow, Taylor diffusion and molecular diffusion are the mechanisms of concentration- and temperature-difference reduction. 

Stokes diameter is defined as the diameter of a sphere having the same density and the same velocity as the particle in a fluid of the same density and viscosity settling under laminar flow conditions. Correction for deviation from Stokes law may be necessary at the large end of the size range. Sedimentation methods are limited to sizes above a [Lm due to the onset of thermal diffusion (Brownian motion) at smaller sizes. 

Equations (22-86) and (22-89) are the turbulent- and laminar-flow flux equations for the pressure-independent portion of the ultrafiltra-tion operating curve. They assume complete retention of solute. Appropriate values of diffusivity and kinematic viscosity are rarely known, so an a priori solution of the equations isn t usually possible. Interpolation, extrapolation, even precuction of an operating cui ve may be done from limited data. For turbulent flow over an unfouled membrane of a solution containing no particulates, the exponent on Q is usually 0.8. Fouhng reduces the exponent and particulates can increase the exponent to a value as high as 2. These equations also apply to some cases of reverse osmosis and microfiltration. In the former, the constancy of may not be assumed, and in the latter, D is usually enhanced very significantly by the action of materials not in true solution. 

For laminar flow - flow in whieh the layers of fluid are stratified aeross whieh there is no mixing apart from that due to moleeular diffusion - Stokes Law (Stokes, 1851) applies. Firstly, however, it is neeessary to define an index of the flow to indieate whether it is laminar or turbulent. This is done through the... 

Laminar Versus Turbulent Flames. Premixed and diffusion flames can be either laminar or turbulent gaseous flames. Laminar flames are those in which the gas flow is well behaved in the sense that the flow is unchanging in time at a given point (steady) and smooth without sudden disturbances. Laminar flow is often associated with slow flow from small diameter tubular burners. Turbulent flames are associated with highly time dependent flow patterns, often random, and are often associated with high velocity flows from large diameter tubular burners. Either type of flow—laminar or turbulent—can occur with both premixed and diffusion flames. 

NPei and NRtt are based on the equivalent sphere diameters and on the nominal velocities ug and which in turn are based on the holdup of gas and liquid. The Schmidt number is included in the correlation partly because the range of variables covers part of the laminar-flow region (NRei < 1) and the transition region (1 < NRtl < 100) where molecular diffusion may contribute to axial mixing, and partly because the kinematic viscosity (changes of which were found to have no effect on axial mixing) is thereby eliminated from the correlation. 

In laminar flow, a similar mixing process occurs when the liquid is sheared between two rotating cylinders. During each revolution, the thickness of the fluid element is reduced, and molecular diffusion takes over when the elements are sufficiently thin. This type of mixing is shown schematically in Figure 7.3 in which the tracer is pictured as being introduced perpendicular to the direction of motion. 

These observations are consistent with the proposed mechanism of the reaction being diffusion controlled in the laminar flow regime. The mass transport is aided by the velocity gradient and thus the reaction rate increases as the Reynolds number is increased. 

In the case of laminar flow, the velocity of the gas at the deposition surface (the inner wall of the tube) is zero. The boundary is that region in which the flow velocity changes from zero at the wall to essentially that of the bulk gas away from the wall. This boundary layer starts at the inlet of the tube and increases in thickness until the flow becomes stabilized as shown in Fig. 2.4b. The reactant gases flowing above the boundary layer have to diffuse through this layer to reach the deposition surface as is shown in Fig. 2.3. 

As a general rule, scaled-down reactors will more closely approach isothermal operation but will less closely approach ideal piston flow when the large reactor is turbulent. Large scaledowns will lead to laminar flow. If the large system is laminar, the scaled-down version will be laminar as well and will more closely approach piston flow due to greater radial diffusion. 

ISOTHERMAL LAMINAR FLOW WITH NEGLIGIBLE DIFFUSION... 

This integral is a special function related to the incomplete gamma function. The solution can be considered to be analytical even though the function may be unfamiliar. Figure 8.1 illustrates the behavior of Equation (8.8) as compared with CSTRs, PFRs, and laminar flow reactors with diffusion. 

Example 8.1 derived a specific example of a powerful result of residence time theory. The residence time associated with a streamline is t = LIVz. The outlet concentration for this streamline is ahatchit)- This is a general result applicable to diffusion-free laminar flow. Example 8.1 treated the case of a... 

Equation (8.9) can be applied to any reaction, even a complex reaction where ctbatch(t) must be determined by the simultaneous solution of many ODEs. The restrictions on Equation (8.9) are isothermal laminar flow in a circular tube with a parabolic velocity profile and negligible diffusion. 

Laminar flow reactors have concentration and temperature gradients in both the radial and axial directions. The radial gradient normally has a much greater effect on reactor performance. The diffusive flux is a vector that depends on concentration gradients. The flux in the axial direction is... 

Example 8.3 The reactor of Example 8.2 is actually in laminar flow with a parabolic velocity profile. Estimate the outlet concentration ignoring molecular diffusion. 

Solution Example 8.1 laid the groundwork for this case of laminar flow without diffusion. The mixing-cup average is... 

The performance of the laminar flow reactor is appreciably worse than that of a PFR, but remains better than that of a CSTR (which gives T=0.5 for kt= 1). The computed value of 0.4432 may be useful in validating more complicated codes that include diffusion. 

Example 8.4 Suppose that the reactive component in the laminar flow reactor of Example 8.2 has a diffusivity of 5x 10 m /s. Calculate the minimum number of axial steps, J, needed for discretization stability when the radial increments are sized using 7=4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128. Also, suggest some actual step sizes that would be reasonable to use. 

Figure 8.1 includes a curve for laminar flow with 3>AtlR = 0.1. The performance of a laminar flow reactor with diffusion is intermediate between piston flow and laminar flow without diffusion, aVI = 0. Laminar flow reactors give better conversion than CSTRs, but do not generalize this result too far It is restricted to a parabolic velocity profile. Laminar velocity profiles exist that, in the absence of diffusion, give reactor performance far worse than a CSTR. 

Flow in a Tube. Laminar flow with a flat velocity profile and slip at the walls can occur when a viscous fluid is strongly heated at the walls or is highly non-Newtonian. It is sometimes called toothpaste flow. If you have ever used Stripe toothpaste, you will recognize that toothpaste flow is quite different than piston flow. Although Vflr) = u and z(7) = 1, there is little or no mixing in the radial direction, and what mixing there is occurs by diffusion. In this situation, the centerline is the critical location with respect to stability, and the stability criterion is... 

Reactors in isothermal laminar flow are exactly scaleable using geometric similarity if diffusion is negligible in the pilot reactor. Converting Equation (8.2) to... 

The temperature counterpart of Q>aVR ccj-F/R and if ccj-F/R is low enough, then the reactor will be adiabatic. Since aj 3>a, the situation of an adiabatic, laminar flow reactor is rare. Should it occur, then T i, will be the same in the small and large reactors, and blind scaleup is possible. More commonly, ari/R wiU be so large that radial diffusion of heat will be significant in the small reactor. The extent of radial diffusion will lessen upon scaleup, leading to the possibility of thermal runaway. If model-based scaleup predicts a reasonable outcome, go for it. Otherwise, consider scaling in series or parallel. 

Polymerizations often give such high viscosities that laminar flow is inevitable. A t5rpical monomer diffusivity in a polymerizing mixture is 1.0 X 10 ° m/s (the diffusivity of the polymer will be much lower). A pilot-scale reactor might have a radius of 1 cm. What is the maximum value for the mean residence time before molecular diffusion becomes important What about a production-scale reactor with R= 10 cm ... 

---