TY - JOUR
T1 - Simulation of CO2 photoreduction in a twin reactor by multiphysics models
AU - Lu, Xuesong
AU - Luo, Xiaojiao
AU - Tan, Jeannie Z. Y.
AU - Maroto-Valer, M. Mercedes
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the financial support provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K021796/1) and the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) at Heriot-Watt University. We are also grateful for the support provided by the Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering. Finally, we thank Prof. Lijun Yang, Dr. Kai Tong and Dr. Sang Li at the North China Electric Power University for their helpful insights and discussions.
Funding Information:
The authors thank the financial support provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council ( EP/K021796/1) and the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions ( RCCS) at Heriot-Watt University. We are also grateful for the support provided by the Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering. Finally, we thank Prof. Lijun Yang, Dr. Kai Tong and Dr. Sang Li at the North China Electric Power University for their helpful insights and discussions.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - The production of solar fuels through CO2 photoreduction is a promising process to control CO2 emissions and provide alternative renewable fuels. Recently, a twin photoreactor design has been used to enhance CO2 conversion efficiency. However, the reaction mechanisms and operating conditions are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to understand the CO2 photoreduction mechanisms in the twin photoreactor by using multiphysics modelling (COMSOL 5.2a). A 2D axisymmetric model was built and the predicted yield of CH3OH matched the experimental values very well under different molar ratios of CO to CO2. Moreover, the effects of operating parameters, including bubble size, gas volume rate, bubble entrance size and photocatalyst loading, were investigated. The CO2 photoreduction in the liquid phase was shown to be a mass-transfer controlled process, and the flow properties significantly influenced the CO2 photoreduction. It was found that the bubbly circulation flow structure, interfacial area between gas and liquid, and surface area of the catalyst are critical for the CH3OH yield. This study can provide the theoretical guidance for process optimization and reactor design.
AB - The production of solar fuels through CO2 photoreduction is a promising process to control CO2 emissions and provide alternative renewable fuels. Recently, a twin photoreactor design has been used to enhance CO2 conversion efficiency. However, the reaction mechanisms and operating conditions are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to understand the CO2 photoreduction mechanisms in the twin photoreactor by using multiphysics modelling (COMSOL 5.2a). A 2D axisymmetric model was built and the predicted yield of CH3OH matched the experimental values very well under different molar ratios of CO to CO2. Moreover, the effects of operating parameters, including bubble size, gas volume rate, bubble entrance size and photocatalyst loading, were investigated. The CO2 photoreduction in the liquid phase was shown to be a mass-transfer controlled process, and the flow properties significantly influenced the CO2 photoreduction. It was found that the bubbly circulation flow structure, interfacial area between gas and liquid, and surface area of the catalyst are critical for the CH3OH yield. This study can provide the theoretical guidance for process optimization and reactor design.
KW - CO photoreduction
KW - Multiphysics modelling
KW - Solar fuels
KW - Twin reactor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106389526&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.04.011
DO - 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.04.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85106389526
SN - 0263-8762
VL - 171
SP - 125
EP - 138
JO - Chemical Engineering Research and Design
JF - Chemical Engineering Research and Design
ER -