Application of CFD for compact catalytic reactors used in biomass-to-liquid processes

Integration of GTL (gas-to-liquids) process and microreactors was studied, focusing in the flow distribution in microplates (sub-element of microreactors) of SMR microreactor using COMSOL Multiphysics software. More uniform flow distribution was observed as the number of channels became < 10. Maldistribution decreased as number of channels decreased. By introducing different amount of inlet volumetric flow rate, this variable (and consequently inlet flow velocity) did not have a significant effect on the uniformity of flow distribution in this specific type of microplates. Simple modifications in the physical shape of the microplates can have a significant impact on improving the flow distribution. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering and 7th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (Prague, Czech Republic 8/28/2010-9/1/2010).