Diffusive plus convective mass transport through catalytic membrane layer with dispersed nanometer-sized catalyst
Endre Nagy
University of Pannonia, Research Institute of Chemical and Process Engineering, P.O. Box 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary, Tel.: +3688-624-040, Fax: +3688-624-038, e-mail:
nagye@mik.vein.hu, web: www.richem.hu /rice/Nagy.htm
2012
Abstract: Mass transfer rates across catalytic membrane interfaces accompanied by first-order, irreversible reactions have been investigated. The catalyst particles impregnated in the membrane matrix are assumed to be very fine, nanometer-sized particles which are uniformly distributed in the structure of the membrane layer. A pseudo-homogeneous models have been developed to describe mass transport through this catalytic membrane layer. Explicit mathematical equations have been given for the prediction of mass transfer rates and the concentration distribution as a function of the physical and chemical parameters, taking into account both diffusive and convective flow through the catalytic membrane layer. The mass transfer rate as well as the reaction modulus is strongly influenced by the membrane properties, such as the size of catalyst particles, the catalyst phase holdup, the mass transfer coefficient between the continuous phase and catalyst particles, etc. The simple, mathematical equations that have been developed can be easily used to predict inlet mass transfer rate and the concentration distribution in the catalytic membrane layer under different operating modes, namely with sweep phase or without sweep phase. The mathematical model has been verified by means of experimental data taken from the literature.
