Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2023.04.006

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2023, Vol. 62 ›› Issue (10): 192-201.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2023.04.006

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Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel

Xuancheng Liu¹, Hongye Li¹, Yibing Song¹, Nan Jin¹, Qingqiang Wang¹, Xunli Zhang², Yuchao Zhao¹

1. Shandong Engineering Research Center of Green Manufacturing for New Chemical Materials, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China;
2. School of Engineering & Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

Received:2023-01-11 Revised:2023-04-11 Online:2023-12-23 Published:2023-10-28
Contact: Xunli Zhang,E-mail:XL.Zhang@soton.ac.uk;Yuchao Zhao,E-mail:yczhao@ytu.edu.cn
Supported by:
We gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978250, 22208278) and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020KB013, ZR2020QE211, 2019KJC012).

Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel

Xuancheng Liu¹, Hongye Li¹, Yibing Song¹, Nan Jin¹, Qingqiang Wang¹, Xunli Zhang², Yuchao Zhao¹

1. Shandong Engineering Research Center of Green Manufacturing for New Chemical Materials, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China;
2. School of Engineering & Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

通讯作者: Xunli Zhang,E-mail:XL.Zhang@soton.ac.uk;Yuchao Zhao,E-mail:yczhao@ytu.edu.cn
基金资助:
We gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978250, 22208278) and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020KB013, ZR2020QE211, 2019KJC012).

Abstract

Abstract: The wall wettability of microchannels plays an important role in the gas–liquid mass transfer dynamics under Taylor flow. In this study, we regulated the contact angle of the wall surface through surface chemical grafting polymerization under controlled experimental conditions. The dynamic changes of CO₂ bubbles flowing along the microchannel were captured by a high-speed video camera mounted on a stereo microscope, whilst a unit cell model was employed to theoretically investigate the gas–liquid mass transfer dynamics. We quantitatively characterized the effects of wall wettability, specifically the contact angle, on the formation mechanism of gas bubbles and mass transfer process experimentally. The results revealed that the gas bubble velocity, the overall volumetric liquid phase mass transfer coefficients (k_La), and the specific interfacial area (a) all increased with the increase of the contact angle. Conversely, gas bubble length and leakage flow decreased. Furthermore, we proposed a new modified model to predict the gas–liquid two-phase mass transfer performance, based on van Baten's and Yao's models. Our proposed model was observed to agree reasonably well with experimental observations.

Key words: Microreactor, Microchannels, Mass transfer, Wettability, Taylor flow, Gas–liquid two-phase

摘要： The wall wettability of microchannels plays an important role in the gas–liquid mass transfer dynamics under Taylor flow. In this study, we regulated the contact angle of the wall surface through surface chemical grafting polymerization under controlled experimental conditions. The dynamic changes of CO₂ bubbles flowing along the microchannel were captured by a high-speed video camera mounted on a stereo microscope, whilst a unit cell model was employed to theoretically investigate the gas–liquid mass transfer dynamics. We quantitatively characterized the effects of wall wettability, specifically the contact angle, on the formation mechanism of gas bubbles and mass transfer process experimentally. The results revealed that the gas bubble velocity, the overall volumetric liquid phase mass transfer coefficients (k_La), and the specific interfacial area (a) all increased with the increase of the contact angle. Conversely, gas bubble length and leakage flow decreased. Furthermore, we proposed a new modified model to predict the gas–liquid two-phase mass transfer performance, based on van Baten's and Yao's models. Our proposed model was observed to agree reasonably well with experimental observations.

关键词: Microreactor, Microchannels, Mass transfer, Wettability, Taylor flow, Gas–liquid two-phase

Xuancheng Liu, Hongye Li, Yibing Song, Nan Jin, Qingqiang Wang, Xunli Zhang, Yuchao Zhao. Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2023, 62(10): 192-201.

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Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel

Effects of channel wall wettability on gas–liquid dynamics mass transfer under Taylor flow in a serpentine microchannel

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