title: Use of computational fluid dynamics simulations for design of a pretreatment screw conveyor reactor.
abstract: Computational fluid dynamics simulations were employed to compare performance of various designs of a pretreatment screw conveyor reactor. The reactor consisted of a vertical screw used to create cross flow between the upward conveying solids and the downward flow of acid. Simulations were performed with the original screw design and a modified design in which the upper flights of the screw were removed. Results of the simulations show visually that the modified design provided favorable plug flow behavior within the reactor. Pressure drop across the length of the reactor without the upper screws in place was predicted by the simulations to be 5 vs 40 kPa for the original design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. eric.berson@louisville.edu
authors.forename: R Eric
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Berson
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hanley
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D002482:Cellulose; D005947:Glucose