Potential of ‘nanofluids’ to further intensify microreactors

Xiaolei Fan, Haisheng Chen, Yulong Ding, Pawel K. Plucinski, Alexei A. Lapkin

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent discovery of high enhancement of heat transfer in nanofluids may be applicable to the area of process intensification of chemical reactors through integration of the functionalities of reaction and heat transfer in compact multifunctional reactors. This may lead to the reduction in the processes footprint and energy intensity over the process life cycle, allow easier implementation of highly exothermic and endothermic reactions, and enable rapid quenching of reactions. A nanofluid based on benign TiO2 material dispersed in ethylene glycol has been studied in an integrated reactor–heat exchanger. An up to 35% increase in the overall heat transfer coefficient was measured in the steady state continuous experiments. This resulted in a closer temperature control in the reaction of selective reduction of an aromatic aldehyde by molecular hydrogen and very rapid change in the temperature of reaction under dynamic reaction control.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)670-667
Number of pages4
JournalGreen Chemistry
Volume10
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution

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