Hydrodynamic Study of Single- and Two-Phase Flow in an AdvancedFlow Reactor

The hydrodynamics Of the GI fluidic module of the Corning Advanced-Flow reactor (AFR) was Characterized using particle image velocimetry. Two series of experiments, single-phase flow with liquid flow rates of 10-40 mL/min and two-phase flow with an identical overall flow rate range and gas volume transport fractions ranging from 0.125 to -0,50, were performed. From the instantaneous velocity vector maps, the Mean and the root-mean--square velocities were computed, which allowed a systematic investigation of the single- and two-phase flow hydrodynamics and-transport processes in the AFR. In single-phase-flow, the velocity field symmetric In the heart-shaped cells, and their particular design results in a stagflation tone that limits momentum exchange in each cell. The addition of the gas phase greatly increases the momentum exchange in the heart-shaped cells, which leads to a more uniform distribution of velocity fluctuations and increased transport processes within the APR.