A Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Simulating the Rotating Disk Apparatus

Reaction kinetics between calcite and acid systems has been studied using the rotating disk apparatus (RDA). However, simplifying assumptions have been made to develop the current equations used to interpret RDA experiments to enable solving them analytically in contrast to using numerical methods. Experimental results revealed inadequacy of some of these assumptions, which necessitates the use of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to investigate their impact on the RDA results. The objectives of the current work are threefold: (1) develop a CFD model to simulate the reaction in the RDA, (2) Identify the error associated with the assumptions in the original equations, and (3) develop a proxy model from the results that can accurately represent the reaction in the RDA. In developing the CFD model, the averaged-continuum approach was used to simulate the chemical reaction on the disk surface. Both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids were studied to investigate the adequacy of the equations’ assumptions. To validate the model, simulations were compared with experimental results. Experiments were run at 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 1.25M HCl with marble using the RDA at 250°F. Rotation speeds of 200, 400, 600, and 1,000 rpm were tested at each acid concentration. The diffusion coefficient was then calculated. Parameters of the CFD model were then adjusted to match the rock dissolved throughout the RDA experiments. The rock dissolved in the disk from the CFD model matched the results from the RDA experiments. The transition from mass-transfer to the kinetics-limited reaction behavior was captured by the CFD model. The velocity and viscosity profiles for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids showed the effect of the container's boundaries on the flow. Results indicate that this effect is pronounced in the case of Newtonian fluids at high rotational speeds. Moreover, the impact of varying viscosities in the case of non-Newtonian fluids resulted in errors in estimating the reaction kinetics. Finally, a proxy model was obtained to reduce the computational time involved in accurately simulating the experiments. The present work developed the first CFD model to accurately evaluate reaction kinetics and diffusion coefficient in the RDA with minimum assumptions. More specifically, the model relaxes the infinite acting, constant fluid properties, and constant reaction surface area assumptions. Finally, the proxy model obtained results in reduced computational time with minimal compromise on accuracy.