Mixing and recirculation characteristics of gas–liquid Taylor flow in microreactors

•3D numerical simulations have been performed to study gas–liquid Taylor flow.•Velocity field in the liquid slug between two Taylor bubbles is analyzed.•Recirculation times increase as the capillary number increases.•Recirculation times are found to increase as the aspect ratio increases.•Mixing is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering research & design 2013-11, Vol.91 (11), p.2225-2234
Main Authors: Abadie, T., Xuereb, C., Legendre, D., Aubin, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aspect ratio
Capillarity
CFD
Channels
Chemical engineering
Chemical Sciences
Engineering Sciences
Fluids mechanics
Gas–liquid Taylor flow
Liquids
Mechanics
Microchannel
Microchannels
Microreactor
Mixing
Recirculation
Slugs
Taylor flow
VOF
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Summary:•3D numerical simulations have been performed to study gas–liquid Taylor flow.•Velocity field in the liquid slug between two Taylor bubbles is analyzed.•Recirculation times increase as the capillary number increases.•Recirculation times are found to increase as the aspect ratio increases.•Mixing is enhanced as the slug length decreases. The effects of operating parameters (capillary and Reynolds numbers) and microchannel aspect ratio (α=w/h=[1;2.5;4]) on the recirculation characteristics of the liquid slug in gas–liquid Taylor flow in microchannels have been investigated using 3-dimensional VOF simulations. The results show a decrease in the recirculation volume in the slug and an increase in recirculation time with increasing capillary number, which is in good agreement with previous results obtained in circular and square geometries (Thulasidas et al., 1997). In addition, increasing the aspect ratio of the channel leads to a slight decrease in recirculating volumes but also a significant increase in recirculation times.
ISSN:0263-8762
1744-3563
DOI:10.1016/j.cherd.2013.03.003