Aerodynamics of Monolithic Matrices for Supporting Solid Reactant or Catalyst

Abstract

Heterogeneous solid/fluid chemical reactions—as well as reactions dependent on solid catalysts—require spreading the active solid substance on the largest accessible area. The solution is a thin layer covering as much as possible convoluted surface of an inert support. This is nowadays the internal surface of narrow parallel passages. The supporting body is usually ceramic, its passages now mostly of square cross section. Reliable detailed knowledge of pressure drop across the set of passages has to be available, especially for flow control based on fluid property changes (e.g., with temperature or fluid composition). This paper presents results of laboratory measurements as well as numerical flowfield computations of the passage flows, with discovered universal law.