Our overall goal is to
design a microchemical reactor to oxidize ammonia to form nitric oxide. To
optimize the conditions, we use a model to describe this reaction. Our model
will include the following physical processes in the microreactor: convection,
reaction, pressure changes, and heat generation. A more complex model can be
used for the following effects: heat transfer in the solid, entry effects and
flow distribution. Breaking the problem into smaller pieces makes it easier to
solve and makes it easier to pinpoint errors as they arise. We will take you
through the various steps of the model and show you how it changes as the model
becomes increasingly complex.