Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies
The depletion of fossil fuels, along with the environmental damages brought by their usage, calls for the development of a clean, sustainable and renewable source of energy. Biofuel, predominantly liquid biofuel such as biodiesel, is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, due to its compatible dir...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1652 |
| _version_ | 1797212636918579200 |
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| author | Koguleshun Subramaniam Kang Yao Wong Kok Hoe Wong Cheng Tung Chong Jo-Han Ng |
| author_facet | Koguleshun Subramaniam Kang Yao Wong Kok Hoe Wong Cheng Tung Chong Jo-Han Ng |
| author_sort | Koguleshun Subramaniam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The depletion of fossil fuels, along with the environmental damages brought by their usage, calls for the development of a clean, sustainable and renewable source of energy. Biofuel, predominantly liquid biofuel such as biodiesel, is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, due to its compatible direct usage within the context of compression ignition engines. However, the industrial production of biodiesel is far from being energy and time efficient, which contributes to its high production cost. These inefficiencies are attributed to poor heat and mass transfer of the transesterification reaction. The utilisation of microchannel reactors is found to be excellent in escalating heat and mass transfer of the reactants, benefitting from their high surface area-to-volume ratio. The microchannel also intensifies the mixing of reactants via the reactor design, micromixers and the slug flow patterns within the reactor, thus enhancing the contact between reactants. Simulation studies have aided in the identification of mixing regimes within the microchannel reactors, induced by various reactor designs. In addition, microwave irradiation heating is found to enhance biodiesel production by localised superheating delivered directly to the reactants at a molecular level. This enables the reaction to begin much earlier, resulting in rapid biodiesel production. It is postulated that the synergy between microchannel reactors and microwave heating would catapult a pathway towards rapid and energy-efficient biodiesel production by enhancing heat and mass transfer between reactants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:45:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78c3d21705f1457d8259c3d1fe6f493f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:45:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-78c3d21705f1457d8259c3d1fe6f493f2024-04-12T13:17:58ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-03-01177165210.3390/en17071652Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor TechnologiesKoguleshun Subramaniam0Kang Yao Wong1Kok Hoe Wong2Cheng Tung Chong3Jo-Han Ng4Carbon Neutrality Research Group, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri 79100, MalaysiaCarbon Neutrality Research Group, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri 79100, MalaysiaCarbon Neutrality Research Group, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri 79100, MalaysiaChina-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Lingang, Shanghai 201306, ChinaCarbon Neutrality Research Group, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri 79100, MalaysiaThe depletion of fossil fuels, along with the environmental damages brought by their usage, calls for the development of a clean, sustainable and renewable source of energy. Biofuel, predominantly liquid biofuel such as biodiesel, is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, due to its compatible direct usage within the context of compression ignition engines. However, the industrial production of biodiesel is far from being energy and time efficient, which contributes to its high production cost. These inefficiencies are attributed to poor heat and mass transfer of the transesterification reaction. The utilisation of microchannel reactors is found to be excellent in escalating heat and mass transfer of the reactants, benefitting from their high surface area-to-volume ratio. The microchannel also intensifies the mixing of reactants via the reactor design, micromixers and the slug flow patterns within the reactor, thus enhancing the contact between reactants. Simulation studies have aided in the identification of mixing regimes within the microchannel reactors, induced by various reactor designs. In addition, microwave irradiation heating is found to enhance biodiesel production by localised superheating delivered directly to the reactants at a molecular level. This enables the reaction to begin much earlier, resulting in rapid biodiesel production. It is postulated that the synergy between microchannel reactors and microwave heating would catapult a pathway towards rapid and energy-efficient biodiesel production by enhancing heat and mass transfer between reactants.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1652biodieselmicrochannel reactortransesterification reactionmicrofluidicsmicrowave heating |
| spellingShingle | Koguleshun Subramaniam Kang Yao Wong Kok Hoe Wong Cheng Tung Chong Jo-Han Ng Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies Energies biodiesel microchannel reactor transesterification reaction microfluidics microwave heating |
| title | Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies |
| title_full | Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies |
| title_short | Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies |
| title_sort | enhancing biodiesel production a review of microchannel reactor technologies |
| topic | biodiesel microchannel reactor transesterification reaction microfluidics microwave heating |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1652 |
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