Numerical simulation of photocatalytic oxidation of gaseous pollutants using low Reynolds number turbulence models

Shijian Peng; Bensheng Zhao; Haiyan Zhang; Jia Wang; Baoqing Deng

doi:10.18502/japh.v5i4.6444

Shijian Peng Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P R China
Bensheng Zhao Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P R China
Haiyan Zhang Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P R China
Jia Wang Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P R China
Baoqing Deng Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P R China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/japh.v5i4.6444

Keywords: Photocatalytic oxidation; CFD; Degradation efficiency

Abstract

Introduction: Photocatalytic oxidation of gaseous pollutants in differential reactors is simulated using computational fluid dynamics.

Materials and methods: The momentum equation and pollutant transport are solved by using ANSYS Fluent. The SIMPLE algorithm is used to treat the pressure-velocity coupling. The laminar flow and low Reynolds k−ε models are used to describe turbulence.

Results: Velocity field distribution and degradation efficiency of different models at various flow rates were obtained and compared with the experimental data. The simulation results of degradation efficiency under different models are basically consistent.

Conclusion: Although low Reynolds k-ε models have better simulation results for high inlet flow rates, in terms of computation complexity, laminar flow is recommended for simulation.