Numerical Study of Laminar Flow and Mass Transfer for In-Line Spacer-Filled Passages

Performance calculations for laminar fluid flow and mass transfer are presented for a spacer-filled passage containing cylindrical spacers configured in an inline-square arrangement, typical of those employed in the process industries. Numerical calculations are performed for fully-developed flow, based on stream-wise periodic conditions for a ‘unit cell’ and compared with those obtained for developing regime in a row of 10 such units. The method is validated for an empty passage (i.e. a plane duct). Results are presented for the normalized mass transfer coefficient and driving force, as function of mean flow Reynolds number, and also the wall mass flux, or blowing parameter. Both constant and variable wall velocities were considered, the latter being typical of those found in many practical membrane assemblies.