Computational Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Engineering

Computational Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications begins with an overview of the current use and critical importance in both industrial and academic scenarios, presenting the key concepts that are the base of this discipline and showing how it is strongly related to a variety of adjacent areas. The fundamentals of the necessary mathematical modelling required and the solution of complex system of equations using CFD techniques (with a comprehensive description of different numerical methods) are then presented in detail.

Part II then presents a variety of applications of CFD in the context of Chemical Reaction Engineering. Detailed examples are explored, ranging from single-phase to multiphase reactors (including operation in microfluidic devices before presenting the main trends, challenges, and opportunities for CFD in this area over the next decades. Part III presents a variety of applications of CFD in the context of the Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering. Detailed examples are explored, ranging from fluid mixing to coupled heat and mass transport phenomena, passing through heat transfer, solids handling and transport in porous media. Part IV concludes the book with an overview of advanced uses of CFD in Chemical Engineering and related areas with a focus on Multiphysics applications (e.g., combining CFD with acoustics, analysing and designing photochemical reactors coupling CFD with light modelling, etc.). Multiscale applications, combining CFD with macroscopic and molecular simulation are also discussed. Finally, an overview of combining CFD with optimization techniques (including DOE and machine learning) is presented.

The book is primarily intended for graduate level students and early career students in chemical engineering as well as those working in industry on the analysis, design, optimization and scale-up of a variety of equipment who require better understanding of phenomena occurring in that environment.

• Presents CFD as a powerful tool to solve a variety of problems specifically in chemical engineering research and industry
• Provides a strong theoretical foundation covering the fundamental mathematical modelling and numerical simulation involved
• Detailed examples of applications are provided including case studies on single-phase and multiphase reactors, fluid mixing, heat transfer, coupled heat and mass transport phenomena, solids handling and transport in porous media
• Applications explored include the analysis, design, optimization and scale-up of chemical transformation systems, heat exchangers, mixers, distillation equipment, and absorption devices
• Bridges the gap between knowledge and recent application/advances by using examples and integrated tutorials