THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS OF MASS AND HEAT-TRANSFER IN MONOLITH CATALYSTS WITH TRIANGULAR CHANNELS

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.