Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Flow in a Micro-Reactor for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

The increasing global demand for sustainable energy sources has driven significant advancements in biodiesel production technologies. Microreactors have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional batch and continuous reactors due to their enhanced heat and mass transfer characteristics, as well as their potential for process intensification. This study presents a numerical investigation of the flow behavior in microreactors used for biodiesel synthesis, focusing on the impact of different geometrical configurations and the presence of obstacles within the reactor. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of microreactor design on flow dynamics and mixing efficiency. The governing equations of the flow and the species transport equations are discretized using the Galerkin Finite Element Method (FEM) combined with a Semi-Lagrangean advection scheme, ensuring a high-fidelity representation of the fluid dynamics and chemical reactions. Simulations are performed for different microreactor configurations, including designs with and without obstacles, to analyze their effect on flow patterns and reaction evolution. Results indicate that the inclusion of obstacles enhances mixing by inducing chaotic advection and promoting interfacial interactions between reactants. Additionally, the analysis highlights the significance of flow regime variations, particularly at different Reynolds numbers, on the stability and efficiency of the biodiesel synthesis process. The findings of this study contribute to the optimization of microreactor design, offering insights into the most effective configurations for enhancing biodiesel production efficiency.