Computational-fluid-dynamics study of a Kenics static mixer as a heat exchanger for supercritical carbon dioxide

The thermal efficiency of a Kenics ® KM static mixer used to pre-heat supercritical carbon dioxide, under high pressure conditions, is studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A mesh sensitivity analysis is performed and the CFD model is validated against experimental results on heat transf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of supercritical fluids 2010-11, Vol.55 (1), p.107-115
Main Authors: Lisboa, Pedro F., Fernandes, João, Simões, Pedro C., Mota, José P.B., Saatdjian, Estéban
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computational fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Heat exchangers
Heat transfer
Kenics static mixer
Mathematical models
Mixers
Supercritical extraction
Supercritical fluids
Turbulent flow
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Summary:The thermal efficiency of a Kenics ® KM static mixer used to pre-heat supercritical carbon dioxide, under high pressure conditions, is studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A mesh sensitivity analysis is performed and the CFD model is validated against experimental results on heat transfer with conventional and supercritical fluids. Three turbulent models – standard k– ɛ, RNG k– ɛ, and k– ω – are employed to model the flow and heat transfer under high pressure conditions; the effects of large variations of the physical properties in the pseudo-critical region of the fluid are also studied. The RNG k– ɛ model gives results that are closer to the experimental data than the other two turbulence models. The numerical results show that the static mixer has a thermal efficiency more than three times higher than that of a conventional empty pipe heat exchanger with similar heat transfer area.
ISSN:0896-8446
1872-8162
DOI:10.1016/j.supflu.2010.08.005