About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Algorithm Development in Materials Science and Engineering
|
Presentation Title |
L-5: Coupled Light Capture and Lattice Boltzmann Model of TiO2 Micropillars Array for Water Purification |
Author(s) |
Pegah S. Mirabedini, Agnieszka Truskowska, Duncan Z. Ashby, Masaru P. Rao, P. Alex Greaney |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Pegah S. Mirabedini |
Abstract Scope |
TiO2 has been widely studied as a photocatalytic material due to its non-toxicity, chemical inertness, and high photocatalytic activity. Microfluidic reactors based on TiO2 micropillar arrays are being developed to use solar radiation to treat recycled wastewater in long-duration space missions. While the photochemistry of TiO2 is understood, there is still considerable scope for optimizing photocatalytic reactor design efficiency, particularly for use in space missions which presents unique design limitations requiring a low-power, lightweight, and low-volume power matrix. We present a theoretical model to investigate the effect of the micropillar’s geometry on their photocatalytic activity and water purification efficiency. A Monte Carlo ray tracing approach was developed to model light absorption, and the lattice Boltzmann method was used to simulate water flow. The results from both of these are used in a diffusion-advection model of contaminant decomposition. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |