Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.75, No.6, 1067-1074, 1997
Mass transfer in horizontal flow channels with thermal gradients
Mass transfer to a wall of a horizontal rectangular channel reactor was investigated by the limiting current technique for Reynolds numbers ranging from 200 to 32000. Overall mass transfer coefficients at various mass transfer surface angles were obtained while the reactor was operated under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Dimensionless correlations were developed for isothermal flows from 25 to 55 degrees C and for non-isothermal flows with applied temperature differences up to 30 degrees C. In the laminar flow range natural convection dominated, but under turbulent conditions combined natural and forced convection prevailed. Mass transfer was approximately doubled under optimum selection of channel surface rotation, temperature gradient and flow rate.