Abstract:
Models for micro-mixing effects in homogeneous reaction systems based on the concept of coalescence-redispersion are reviewed along with a brief coverage of alternate models from the recent literature. The model for simulation of the effect of micro-mixing on conversion in the case of a (1,1) order reaction taking place in an ideally macro-mixed CSTR between two separately fed reactants proposed by Spielman and Levenspiel (1965) is extended in the present work to a general case where the volumetric feed rates and concentrations of the individual reactants are unequal. The model equations are presented and solved in dimensionless form. The method of averaging the concentrations of the reactants in the reactor and selection of the time interval for simulation are modified to improve the accuracy of computation. The present model is used to investigate micro-mixing effects on conversion in the case of (2,0) and (0,0) order reactions. The results on conversion in the case of a (1,1) order reaction with unmixed feed and equal reactant feed rates and concentrations presented in Figure 3 of the paper published by Spielman and Levenspiel (1965) are not found to converge to the ideal CSTR results even at large values of the micro-mixing parameter, I, whereas the present model is found to give results that should be consistent with the ideal CSTR results expected at high values of the micro-mixing parameter, I. The source of error in the results published by Spielman and Levenspiel (1965) is identified. The effect of the ratio of volumetric feed rates of individual reactants on conversion is found to be significant for the different kinetic schemes investigated in the present work.
Speaker Bio:
B.Tech (Hons) – IIT, Mumbai (1966); M.Tech - IIT, Kanpur (1968); Ph.D – Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA. Post Doc – IISc(Bangalore)- 1972, ETH (Zurich) – 1973-74
Assistant Professor(75-82), Associate Professor(83-88), and Professor(89-2011) - IIT(Delhi)
Areas of Research: Non-isothermal reactor dynamics, Micro-mixing effects in chemical reactors, Hydrodynamics of gas liquid reactors, Gas absorption with chemical reaction, Carbon capture, Batch reactor control
Teaching experience:
Taught gas-liquid reaction kinetics and reactor design at post graduate level for nearly 3 decades , and process control at PG level for more than a decade.
Research Accomplishments:
Guided research at UG and PG levels in the areas of chemical reactor dynamics, mixing, and gas-liquid reactors.
33 international publications, 44 presented papers in national and international conferences, conducted short term courses on computer applications, gas purification ,and CRE; 2 approved Indian patents on energy conservation by mechanical vapor recompression, and a new support plate design for packed columns; designed, erected, and Commissioned, and operated a full scale pilot plant on carbon capture by chemical solvents. Also successfully demonstrated energy recovery by mechanical vapor recompression of Steam-carbon dioxide gas mixtures.
Awards won:
- Sigma Xi second best paper award , Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho (1970)
- Kuloor memorial best paper awards – 1983, 1988