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Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering

May 2019

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  • Picture of the Month
The image shows local mass transfer and flow phenomena in slug flow. © AD​/​BCI

May 2019 – Local mass transfer and flow phenomena in slug flow

The implementation of conventional sensors is a drawback when investigating mass transfer phenomena within microstructured devices, since they disturb the flow and reactor characteristics. Recently, we developed a non-invasive colorimetric method to acquire local mass transfer information in slug flow. By introducing an Arduino based slider setup, which is equipped with a computer-vision system to track the flow, it is possible to capture the entire life time of a single slug and provide valuable data for the development of theoretical models and validation of numerical simulations.
This setup demonstrates how open-source soft- and hardware can enhance analytical tools and contribute to the fundamental understanding of gas-liquid mass transfer phenomena.

Corresponding publication: W. Krieger, J. Lamsfuß, W. Zhang, N. Kockmann. Local Mass Transfer Phenomena and Chemical Selectivity of Gas-Liquid Reactions in Capillaries. Chem. Eng. Technol.  2017, vol. 40 (11), p. 2134-2143