Fast Competitive Reactions in Taylor-Couette Flow

Similarity parameters are derived to correlate the selectivity of mixing controlled parallel reactions within Taylor-Couette reactors. For the common case of laminar reactant feed the Kolmogoroff time is shown to correlate selectivity in turbulent, Taylor-Couette flows provided the reactor Reynolds number Re < ReC. The upper limit ReC for the reactor Reynolds number is shown to be constrained by the volumetric flow ratio of vortex cell-to-reactant feed. For larger and more probable reactor Reynolds numbers Re > ReC, the inertial time scale defined in terms of a reactor feed length is shown to correlate selectivity. The latter scaling law is used to correlate the present data and for comparison with similar stirred tank data. The advantages of the Taylor-Couette geometry are discussed. Attempts to improve selectivity with rotor-generated cavitation, however, were unsuccessful.