Surface reaction with combined forced and free convection

Abstract

Abstract The influence of combined forced and free convection on the surface reaction of a laminarly flowing species in a rectangular channel is studied. The free convective motion, which is superimposed upon the main axial flow, arises from a transverse density gradient produced by the release of a reaction product, or heat, at the channel wall. A numerical stream function‐vorticity method is employed to solve the three‐dimensional conservation equations in the case of large Schmidt number. Effects of aspect ratio, diffusivity ratio, surface reaction rate, and Rayleigh number upon the overall reactant conversion rate and local Sherwood number are examined. Reasonable agreement is obtained with experimental data for a hydrochloric acid‐calcium carbonate surface reaction.