Numerical simulation of transesterification reaction in Y-shaped microreactor

Abstract

Numerical simulation is a technique to examine problems of transesterification reaction in microreactor by mathematically using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3a. Three different geometries configuration of microreactors are Y-shaped microreactor, Y-shaped with love-shaped obstacles microreactor (YLOM) and Y-shaped with split and recombine microreactor (YSRM). A study was carried out to examine the effects of different geometries configuration of microreactors, inlet pressures, temperatures and oil molar ratio towards conversion of triglyceride. YLOM is the best geometry configuration with producing the highest oil conversion. The highest oil conversion also can be achieve at parameter of 0.001 Pa, 50℃ and 12:1 oil molar ratio.