Simulation of impinging jet apparatus for gas-liquid reaction rate measurement

A CFD model for the gas-side of an impinging jet iron bath reactor has been developed to assist in the interpretation and design of oxidizing gas-melt reaction rate experiments. Heat transfer and reaction at the surface have been included. A free surface model, which solves for the liquid motion within the bath as well as the gas motion above the bath, has also been developed. This model also predicts extent and shape of the dimple formed on the liquid surface by the impinging jet. Both models have been run for conditions typical of jet impingement experiments using CO2, H2O and O-2. The main conclusions are Results from the model for gas-side mass transport are in good agreement with the empirical correlation of Belton and Belton (1980) Experimentally determined rates of decarburization by CO2 should be corrected for mass transfer because the experiments are often carried out under mixed rate control, eg for gas flow rate 10 L/min when the sulphur concentration is lower than 0.045 If the rate constant for oxygen reaction is greater than about 5 mol/m2.s.atm, it cannot be determined using a gas flow rate of 10 L/min or lower because of mass transfer control. A cavity of depth 4.5 mm is predicted for a gas flow rate of 10 L/min and this substantially changes the flow field (and hence reaction rate) compared with a simulation in which the surface is assumed to be flat.