Pinched tube flow reactor: Hydrodynamics and suitability for exothermic multiphase reactions

A novel tubular flow reactor where a straight tube is modified by pinching it periodically at a fixed pitch and at different angles is presented. Pinched tubes (straight tube as well as helical coils) with different pitch and angles between successive pinching are studied. This work reports a detail...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIChE journal 2017-01, Vol.63 (1), p.358-365
Main Authors: Sharma, Mrityunjay K., Potdar, Shital B., Kulkarni, Amol A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical engineering
Chemical reactions
Economics
Exothermic reactions
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Hydrodynamics
mass transfer
pinched tube flow reactor
pressure drop
reactions
Reactors
Residence time distribution
Tubes
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Summary:A novel tubular flow reactor where a straight tube is modified by pinching it periodically at a fixed pitch and at different angles is presented. Pinched tubes (straight tube as well as helical coils) with different pitch and angles between successive pinching are studied. This work reports a detailed hydrodynamic study involving single and two‐phase flow. Mixing experiments showed that having an angle of 90° between successive pinchs achieves the shortest mixing length when compared to lower angles. Pressure recovery along with sequence of high and low shear zones and change of flow direction imposed better mixing. Residence time distribution studies showed that higher number of pinch sections decreases the extent of dispersion, yet it deviates from plug flow. The performance is evaluated by carrying a homogeneous and two‐phase aromatic nitration and also liquid‐liquid extraction. Pinched tube presents an economical option as a flow reactor for conducting exothermic reactions. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 358–365, 2017
ISSN:0001-1541
1547-5905
DOI:10.1002/aic.15498