计算流体力学(CFD)方法分析先进流动反应器的流体力学和热力学行为

Corning® Advanced-Flow™ glass reactors are continuous flow reactors with hydraulic diameter in the range of millimetres. These devices make possible the switch of chemical reactions from batch mode to continuous processing through more efficient, more economical and safer processes. In addition, these reactors provide a platform for developing innovative chemistries that have never been considered industrially practical, either for hazard or yield reasons. Corning proprietary apparatuses are compact, adaptable and scalable, optimizing overall production cost and quality of high-value specialty, fine, and pharmaceutical chemicals. Corning Advanced-Flow™ glass reactors are composed of multiple inter-connected glass devices having different designs, offering the advantages of process intensification and glass-specific qualities like transparency and very good chemical resistance. This paper presents the comparison between experimental and CFD modelling results of a family of Corning glass devices aiming at achieving and maintaining very efficient mixing along the dwell time path. Numerical results are compared to experimental data: velocity profiles measured by micro-PIV means, pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient. The satisfactory agreement between experimental results and CFD modelling proved the utility of numerical simulations in the development of new designs. Therefore, CFD tools help on one hand to predict the performance of new devices and on the other hand to optimize their design in order to improve their behaviour. Thus, CFD simulation facilitates the design and reduces time and cost for the investigation.