LAMINAR-FLOW AND FORCED-CONVECTION HEAT-TRANSFER IN PLATE-TYPE MONOLITH STRUCTURES BY A FINITE-ELEMENT SOLUTION

A numerical solution is obtained by the finite element method for the Graetz problem of forced convection heat transfer in the channels of p late-type monolith catalysts. For this purpose a generalized model is constructed for the duct geometry, the fully developed laminar velocit y profile is calculated. and the heat transfer problem is solved for b oth uniform wall heat flux or temperature. The results are summarized in interpolated functional forms providing the axial evolution of the Nusselt number. Such formulae represent a prerequisite to the developm ent of design equations for mass-transfer coefficients in plate-type m onolith catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with am monia.