G. Groppi et E. Tronconi, THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS OF MASS AND HEAT-TRANSFER IN MONOLITH CATALYSTS WITH TRIANGULAR CHANNELS, Chemical Engineering Science, 52(20), 1997, pp. 3521-3526
Steady-state heat and mass transfer in equilateral triangular channels
of monolith catalytic combustors is investigated by means of a 3D mod
el, assuming fully developed laminar flow and Lewis number equal to on
e. Solutions of the 3D model provide the axial profiles of Sh and Nu n
umbers. The worse mass and heat transfer properties associated with tr
iangular channels due to their acute corners result in anticipated lig
ht-off and in lower gas heating rates as compared to circular or squar
e channels. Even adopting asymptotically correct correlations for heat
and mass transfer coefficients, simpler 1D models may predict tempera
ture profiles significantly different from those of the rigorous 3D ap
proach.