Profile
M.Sc.
Completed
12 Sep 2025
117 pages
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Advisors: Anjos, G. R.; Bodstein, G. C. R.
Antonio Emanuel Marques dos Santos
Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Flow in a Micro-Reactor for Biodiesel Production
Student work
Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Flow in a Micro-Reactor for Biodiesel Production
Abstract
The increasing global demand for sustainable energy sources has driven significantadvancementsinbiodieselproductiontechnologies. Microreactorshaveemerged 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 andwithoutobstacles, toanalyzetheireffectonflowpatternsandreactionevolution. 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
Advising
Advisors: Anjos, G. R.; Bodstein, G. C. R.
Research output
10 publications
Journal articles, conference papers and other records associated with this student.
Publications
Publications
Publications
Numerical analysis of heat and mass transfer in microreactors for biodiesel synthesis
Keywords: Finite Element Method, Microchannel, Biodiesel
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...
Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Flow in a Micro-Reactor for Biodiesel Production
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Keywords: Finite Element Method, Micro-channels, Biodiesel
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...
Numerical Investigation and Comparison of Bubble Approximation and Coalescence in Two-Phase Flows
Niteroi, Brazil
Keywords: progressao, article, resumo
The coalescence of bubbles and droplets has an important role in many industrial processes such as petroleum refining, heat exchangers of nuclear reactors, and even in food and beverage production, where multiphase flows...
Numerical Analysis of Flow in a Microreactor
Niterói, Brazil
Keywords: Finite element method, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Microreactors
Biofuels are a type of fuel of natural or biological origin. It has become very popular because it is a clean and renewable energy, unlike traditional fossil fuels. Biodiesel is a monoalkyl ester obtained by reacting...
Numerical Investigation of a Gas Bubble in Complex Geometries for Industrial Process Equipment Design
Keywords: two-phase flow, semi-Lagrangian method, Laplace--Beltrami operator, CFD
This study investigates three-dimensional two-phase flows in complex geometries found in industrial process equipment design using finite-element numerical simulations. The governing equations are formulated in...
Numerical Investigation and Comparison of Bubble Approximation and Coalescence in Two-Phase Flows
Sao Carlos, Brazil
Keywords: article, resumo
High-Order Finite Element Method for Non-Newtonian Two-Phase Flows with Moving Interfaces
Buzios, Brazil
Keywords: progressao, article, resumo
The present work builds upon a computational framework originally developed for Newtonian fluid simulations and subsequently extended to model non-Newtonian two-phase flows with complex interface dynamics. This flexible...
Approximation and Coalescence of Multiples Bubbles in Two-Phase Flows
Santiago, Chile
Keywords: progressao, article, resumo
The present work aims at developing a new flexible computational framework based on modern programming language to simulate macro and microscale two-phase flows with complex interface dynamics to investigate...
Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Flows in a Micro-Reactor for Biodiesel Production
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Keywords: Finite Element Method, streamfunction-vorticity formulation, Galerkin method, Microchannels, species transport
Biofuels are a type of fuel of natural or biological origin. It has become very popular because it is a clean and renewable energy, unlike traditional fossil fuels. Biodiesel is a monoalkyl ester obtained by reacting...
Numerical Analysis of Flow in Microchannels Using The Finite Element Method
Florianópolis, Brazil
Keywords: Finite Element Method, vorticity, streamfunction, biofuel
Os biocombustíveis ganharam popularidade significativa por serem uma fonte de energia limpa e renovável em comparação com os combustíveis fósseis convencionais. O biodiesel é produzido a partir de ésteres monoalquílicos...