Hydrodynamic regimes of gas–liquid flow in a microreactor channel

The hydrodynamic regimes of gas–liquid flow in a microreactor channel have been investigated, using water and ethanol (liquids with different contact angle and surface tension values) and nitrogen as an inert gas. The microreactor was Y-shaped. Experiments were carried out to determine the character of gas and liquid flow (“regime map”). Four main flow types were observed: bubble, slug, slug/annular and annular, the slug regime occupying most of the region investigated. In the second part of the work a criterion for the effectiveness of the gas–liquid interfacial area has been proposed. This criterion determines the mass transfer activity of the interfacial area in the slug regime. Methods of estimation of the parameters necessary to apply the criterion have been outlined.