Optimization of a 3-D Isothermal Laminar Flow Model of a Monolith Reactor Featuring First Order Reactions

In this work, a 3-dimensional model is optimized, of a monolith reactor in which a first order reaction is carried out, under isothermal, fully developed laminar flow, conditions. The obtained results are consistent with the optimal reactor design obtained under plug flow conditions, namely a maximum conversion reactor features maximum channel width, minimum hydraulic diameter, and maximum fluid velocity determined by an upper bound that is a function of the channel’s width, height, and the capital cost to compression cost ratio.