Spring into STEM | Process Intensification in the Chemical Industry | Virtual Lecture Series

Abstract:

Historically most chemical reactions have been performed in large reactors or in large continuous plants. The length scale of vessels utilised to confine materials has been typically of the order metres. Transport of mass and energy had also similar length scales. Micro- and milli-reactors are a recent development where the reaction takes place in a very small reactive zone and thus the materials and energy transport length scales are significantly decreased. This results to better control of the processing environment, allowing precise temperature control, excellent mixing, substantial reduction of risk for highly exothermic reactions, as well as decrease of reactor size. Such advantages also extend to other peripheral equipment, which affect processes that are critical to the reaction, such as mixing, heat exchange and separation. In fact, often process intensification arises by taking advantage of multifunctionality, i.e. when the reaction is integrated with other processes (such as heat exchange or separation). The design of intensified reactors and equipment is a chemical engineering challenge requiring new fabrication techniques and a thorough understanding of fluid mechanics. Design is aided by simulation tools, which can be used to better understand the interaction of the key processes of mass and heat transfer and reaction.

Presented by:

Professor Asterios Gavriilidis at UCL Chemical Engineering

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