Numerical simulation of the cyclone reactor making hydrogen by hydrolyzing Zn nano-particles

A new-model cyclone reactor was used in the experiment hydrolyzing Zn nano-particles, in which the chemical reaction and gas-solid separation were accomplished simultaneously. The flow-field of the cyclone reactor was analyzed by means of the computational fluid dynamics software (CFD). The results showed that the pressure and velocity distribution of the reactor ware reasonable at a given inlet velocity. The inlets design differing from other designers improved the distribution of gas-flow and kept the continuity and stability of the flow-field. This is a powerful tool for the reactor designer to optimize reactor structure and ascertain the process parameters.