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Two dimensional modeling and simulation of mass transport in microfabricated preconcentrators.

Journal Article · · Proposed for publication in IEEE Sensors Journal.
OSTI ID:971826

The adsorption and desorption behavior of a planar microfabricated preconcentrator (PC) has been modeled and simulated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package CFDRC-ACE+trade. By comparison with the results of a designed experiment, model parameters were determined. Assuming a first-order reaction for the adsorption of a light hydrocarbon chemical analyte onto the PC adsorbent and a unity-value sticking coefficient, a rate constant of 36,500 s{sup -1} was obtained. This compares favorably with the value of 25,300 s{sup -1} obtained by application of the Modified-Wheeler equation. The modeled rate constant depends on the concentration of adsorbent sites, estimated to be 6.94 ldr 10{sup -8} kmol/m{sup 2} for the Carboxen 1000 adsorbent used. Using the integral method, desorption was found to be first order with an Arrhenius temperature dependence and an activation energy of 30.1 kj/mol. Validation of this model is reported herein, including the use of Aris-Taylor dispersion to predict the influence of fluidics surrounding the PC. A maximum in desorption peak area with flow rate, predicted from a quadratic fit to the results of the designed experiment, was not observed in the 2-D simulation. Either approximations in the simulated model or the nonphysical nature of the quadratic fit are responsible. Despite the apparent simplicity of the model, the simulation is internally self consistent and capable of predicting performance of new device designs. To apply the method to other analytes and other adsorbent materials, only a limited number of comparisons to experiment are required to obtain the necessary rate constants.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
971826
Report Number(s):
SAND2005-4510J
Journal Information:
Proposed for publication in IEEE Sensors Journal., Journal Name: Proposed for publication in IEEE Sensors Journal.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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