Intensification of convective heat transfer in a stator-rotor-stator spinning disc reactor

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 61; no. 7; pp. 2307 - 2318
• Main Authors: de Beer, Michiel M., Keurentjes, Jos T.F., Schouten, Jaap C., van der Schaaf, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2015; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Amplification; Angular velocity; Chemical engineering; Chemical reactions; Chemical reactors; convective heat-transfer; Discs; Disks; Heat exchangers; Heat transfer; intensification; Reactors; rotor-stator cavity; Rotors; Spinning; spinning disc reactor; turbulence intensity
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.14788

A stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor is presented, which aims at intensification of convective heat‐transfer rates for chemical conversion processes. Single phase fluid‐rotor heat‐transfer coefficients hr are presented for rotor angular velocities ω=0−157 rad s−1 and volumetric throughflow rates ϕv=15−20·10−6 m3s−1. The values of hr are independent of ϕv and increase from 0.95 kWm−2K−1 at ω = 0 rad s−1 to 34 kWm−2K−1 at ω = 157 rad s−1. This is a factor 2–3 higher than values achievable in passively enhanced reactor‐heat exchangers, due to the 1–2 orders of magnitude larger specific energy input achievable in the stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor. Moreover, as hr is independent of ϕv, the heat‐transfer rates are independent of residence time. Together with the high mass‐transfer rates reported for rotor–stator spinning disc reactors, this makes the stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor a promising tool to intensify heat‐transfer rates for highly exothermal chemical reactions. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2307–2318, 2015