MODELING OF RADIATION ABSORPTION IN A FLAT-PLATE PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTOR

The radiation field inside a flat-plate photocatalytic reactor has bee n modeled. The solid-liquid heterogeneous reactor is irradiated by two tubular lamps and two parabolic reflectors. The model accounts for ab sorption and scattering effects by the solid suspension. From the lamp and reflector characteristics, the catalyst properties and concentrat ion, and the reactor dimensions, the model provides a detailed descrip tion of the spatial and angular direction distributions of radiation i ntensities inside the reactor. These results permit to calculate at ea ch point of the reactor the local value of the volumetric rate of radi ation energy absorption (LVREA), a property that is always required to formulate the initiation rate of any photocatalytic process.