Chaotic Transport in Three-Dimensional Reactors Operating in Open Flows for Continuous Biodiesel Production from Rapeseed Oil: Numerical and Experimental Comparative Study
Résumé
The present study aims to investigate a suitable biodiesel production process. Two reactors called serpentin-3D (S-3D) and New-Serpentin-3D (NS-3D), operating in continuous mode, are used to produce biodiesel. The thermal and dynamic characterizations of both reactors are numerically examined for several Reynolds number values. In addition, the conversion of the rapeseed oil to biodiesel is experimentally performed by the transesterification reaction. Numerical results showed a better quality of thermal mixing using NS-3D geometry where the degree of mixing is close to 1 for miscible and immiscible fluids. The experimental study illustrates that the conversion rate, using the reactor based on NS-3D geometry, is about 99%. Moreover, the properties of the biodiesel are in compliance with the required standard EN14214 (MG = 0.7 20 % m/m, DG = TG = 0.2 % m/m). Therefore, the NS-3D geometry could present a better alternative for the continuous production of biodiesel.