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Modeling and Simulation to Investigate Effects of Static Mixer, Carrier Gas, Temperature and Pressure on the Mixing Ratio of Carbon Nanotubes Growth Reactors

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Modeling and Simulation to Investigate Effects of Static Mixer, Carrier Gas, Temperature and Pressure on the Mixing Ratio of Carbon Nanotubes Growth Reactors University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Dissertations and Theses @ UNI Student Work 2005 Modeling and simulation to investigate effects of static mixer, carrier gas, temperature and pressure on the mixing ratio of carbon nanotubes growth reactors David Addie Noye University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©2005 David Addie Noye Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd Part of the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons, and the Polymer and Organic Materials Commons Recommended Citation Noye, David Addie, "Modeling and simulation to investigate effects of static mixer, carrier gas, temperature and pressure on the mixing ratio of carbon nanotubes growth reactors" (2005). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 226. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/226 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses @ UNI by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Copyright by DAVID ADDIE NOYE July 2005 All Right Reserved MODELING AND SIMULATION TO·INVESTIGATE EFFECTS OF STATIC MIXER, CARRIER GAS, TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ON THE MIXING RATIO OF CARBON NANOTUBES GROWTH REACTORS An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Industrial Technology Approved: Dr. J~Fecik, Professor, Chair David Addie Noye University of Northern Iowa July 2005 LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, lOWA ABSTRACT The problem of this study was to investigate the effects of static mixer, carrier gas, carrier gas inlet pressures, and reactor operating temperatures on the mixing ratio of carbon nanotube synthesizing reactor. The methodology included design of static mixers, mathematical modeling, and computer modeling and simulation experiments. The simulation experiment was performed based on single phase carrier gas modeling due to difficulty and time for three phase fluid modeling. First only nitrogen carrier gas in addition to the other three factors under constant inlet flow velocity and inlet temperature was simulated. Secondly, the same procedure was applied to argon earner gas. Three temperature values were extracted at exit of model reactors with internal configuration varied with types of static mixers. The bulk temperature and temperature deviations were calculated. The deviations were then divided by the bulk temperature to obtain the mixing ratios from which the mixing indices were determined. In addition, the stream lines for each treatment were obtained to validate the quantitative mixing indices. A 4-way analysis of variance (ANOV A) was completed, and the diagnostics check on the transformed data showed that the statistical assumptions were met. Thus, the inferential statistics and conclusions confirming or disconfirming the original research questions and research hypotheses were then determined at significant level of .05. In conclusion, the baffle static mixer showed significant improvement over the existing reactor in the mixing ratio using single phase buffer gas flow. Also the reactor \) temperature showed significant effect on the mixing ratio. On the other hand, the type of carrier gas and pressure did not show significant effect on the mixing ratio. This indicated that the appropriate reactor temperatures in addition to improving the inner configuration of the carbon nanotube growth reactors with static mixers can improve achieving uniform atomic distances between carrier gases, carbon and metal catalyst vapors. In the case of laser and solar methods this can then)ead to uniform plume formation, cooling, nucleation, growth, diameter and length of carbon nanotubes. The purity of carbon nanotubes can improve and consequently lead to higher yield and improved productivity of the laser vapor method and other methods of growing carbon nanotubes such as the solar, arc, flame and chemical vapor deposition. This will further contribute to cheaper purification cost and hence the overall price of carbon nanotubes. MODELING AND SIMULATION TO INVESTIGATE EFFECTS OF STATIC MIXER, CARRIER GAS, TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ON THE MIXING RATIO OF CARBON NANOTUBES GROWTH REACTORS A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor oflndustrial Technology Approved: Dr. Ronald E. O'Meara, Co-Chair ~iese, C:::ittee Member Dr. Andrew R. Gilpin, Committee Member Dr. Paul M. S~ember David Addie Noye University of Northern Iowa July 2005 11 Dedicated to My wife Addie-Noye, Florence and to My children Addie-Noye, Eugenia Naa Shormeh; Addie-Noye, Eugene Nii Noye; and Addie-Noye, Eugenie Naa-Afieye. 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to acknowledge the guidance and encouragement of the advisory committee members: Dr. John Fecik, advisor, Dr. Ronald O'Meara, co-advisor, Dr. Scott Giese, Dr. Andrew R. Gilpin, and Dr. Paul M. Shand. Without their continuous advice and assistance, this research would have been impossible. Special thanks would be given to Dr. John Fecik, advisor who provided steady leadership, spent a lot of time and gave unflinching support for this research. The author also expresses his gratitude to the Department oflndustrial Technology, College of Natural Sciences, and Graduate College of the University of Northern Iowa for providing funding including purchase ofFEMLAB software that made this study possible. Additionally, debt of gratitude is owed to Dr. Mohammed Fahmy and Dr. Clifton Chancey who gave me occasional but significant guidance that contributed to the completion of this study. Similarly, to the entire administrative staff of the Department of Industrial Technology and International Services Office of the University of Northern Iowa, particularly, Ross Schupbach for their ever readiness to address my needs. The greatest debt is owed to Dr. Ronald Bro, who the author worked with in Ghana and made it possible to complete his doctoral program with the Department of Industrial Technology of the University of Northern Iowa. Further, special debt of gratitude is owed to my wife Mrs. Florence Addie-Noye for whom without sacrificing the completion of her undergraduate studies in Ghana to assist me through challenging times this study could never have been completed. I extend similar gratitude to my entire family and reliable friends for their steady and timely support. lV TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................xiv LIST OF FIGURES .......................... ; ........................................................xv CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 1 Research Problem .............................................................................. 1 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................ 7 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................ 7 Statement of Need/Justification .............................................................. 7 Research Questions and Statement of Hypotheses ..................................... 11 Research Questions: ............................................................... 11 Research question one ................................................... 11 Research question two ................................................... 11 Statement of Hypotheses .......................................................... 11 Hypothesis one .......................................................... 11 Hypothesis two ........................................................... 12 Hypothesis three ......................................................... 12 Hypothesis four ......................................................... 12 Hypothesis five ............ : ............................................. 13 Assumptions ............................................................................................... 13 Delimitations and Limitations ......................................................................... 15 Definition ofTerms........................................................................................... 16 v PAGE CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................20 Carbon Nanotubes and Their Processing Methods .................................... 20 Extraordinary Properties of Carbon Nanotubes ...............................20 Uses and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes ..................................22 Methods and Reactors Used for Growing Carbon Nanotubes .............. 26 Arc discharge method ...................................................26 Chemical vapor deposition .............................................28 High pressure carbon monoxide method ............................. 29 Solar vaporization method ............................................. 30 Flame combustion method ............................................. 32 Laser Ablation Method of Growing Carbon Nanotubes ...................... 34 Working principles ...................................................... .34 Reactor/furnace .......................................................... 37 Quartz tube ................................................................38 Graphite and metal catalyst composites .............................. .39 Vaporization of carbon and metal
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