Magnetic resonance imaging as a tool to study Gas-Liquid Taylor Flows

Abstract

This thesis combines the two major research fields of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and chemical reaction engineering for the investigation of gas-liquid Taylor flows. The knowledge of the interaction between local flow dynamics and chemical reactions is crucial for optimizing chemical processes, as residence time variations can impact product selectivity and yield. Magnetic resonance imaging addresses this issue by performing non-invasive measurements of flow dynamics and arising reaction products. The fundamental advantage of MRI over conventional optical methods lies in its capability of non-invasive measurement of pure systems, even in opaque environments. The key challenge is the real-time acquisition of sharply depicted and well-resolved MR images in non-stationary and fast-flowing pure systems. Three main research questions are addressed and answered successfully in this work: (i) whether MRI can evaluate gas-liquid Taylor flows under real flow conditions, (ii) the ability to analyze reactive flows by MRI and (iii) whether MRI data can be correlated with a physical model of the temporal bubble length decrease in non-reactive and reactive Taylor flows. The tools and methods developed in this thesis offer great potential and contribute to a deeper understanding of gas-liquid Taylor flows.