Abstract

A two-dimensional model for a membrane reactor used for the absorption of CO2 into amines was developed and two solution procedures were tested for the combined diffusion-reaction problem. The method of lines/finite difference method is the fastest and most stable, but conservation of mass is not guaranteed. The finite volume method needs very good initial estimates to converge, and is much slower. This shows a potential problem in the use of commercial CFD-codes for coupled fluid dynamic, diffusion, and chemical reaction problems. The model has been validated with respect to effects of steep wall diffusivity profiles, membrane pore penetration, and available gas/liquid contact area. The agreement between simulated and experimental absorption fluxes is very good, and the experimental unit is found to have good sensitivity for obtaining kinetic and diffusion parameters.

Recommended Citation

Hoff, Karl A.; Poplsteinova, Jana; Jakobsen, Hugo A.; Falk-Pedersen, Olav; Juliussen, Olav; and Svendsen, Hallvard F. (2003) "Modeling of Membrane Reactor," International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering: Vol. 1: A9.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol1/A9