Theoretical analysis of gas–liquid mass transfer in Taylor flow capillary reactors

Abstract

Mass transfer in Taylor flow columns was herein investigated from a theoretical point of view. For the first time, an exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations in the liquid slugs that separate Taylor bubbles has been obtained, as along with a solution for the diffusion equation in the proximity of the hemispherical caps of Taylor bubbles. In addition, an exact solution of the diffusion equation in the liquid films that divide the gas bubbles from the walls of the capillary channel has been obtained. This allows predicting mass transfer rates in Taylor flow capillary reactors using only physical properties (without fitted parameters). The results for a methane-water system were consistent with data from the literature. The contribution of the hemispherical caps was shown to be two orders of magnitude smaller than the contribution of the liquid film flowing around the gas bubbles.