Pressure Drop in MicroChannel Reactors

The pressure drop per unit length of the microstructured channels with laminar flow is given by the Hagen-Poiseuille equation [17]  

To compare the catalytic wall reactor with a packed bed, correct criteria must be chosen [18]. For both the reactors, the outer catalyst surface per void (V oy) volume and the space-time must be identical. Under these conditions, the following relationship between the diameter of the microchannel and the particle diameter holds 

A better comparison between packed beds and microchaimels can be obtained, estimating the reactor performance in relation to the energy dissipation. To do so, we will suppose very fast intrinsic reaction rates. In consequence, the obtainable 

---