Influence of statistical activity variations in diluted catalyst beds on the thermal reactor behavior: Derivation of an a priori criterion

Ganzer G, Freund H (2020)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Book Volume: 220

Article Number: 115607

DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.115607

Abstract

Catalyst bed dilution by mixing active and inert particles is common practice for highly exothermic gas phase reactions for balancing the heat generation and heat removal out of the reactor tubes. The predicted reactor performance is commonly calculated assuming a perfectly mixed bed. However, loading a particle mixture into a reactor tube is an inherently statistical process, and thus fluctuations in local activity cannot be avoided which can lead to the formation of local hotspots. We have analyzed the influence of non-uniform activity profiles on the reactor behavior by simulation studies using 1- and 2-dimensional reactor models. Based on the results, an a priori criterion using dimensionless numbers was derived for the prediction of maximum temperature variations. The general applicability has been successfully proven for several reaction systems and process conditions. The derived correlation allows for considering the non-idealities at an early stage of reactor and process development.

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How to cite

APA:

Ganzer, G., & Freund, H. (2020). Influence of statistical activity variations in diluted catalyst beds on the thermal reactor behavior: Derivation of an a priori criterion. Chemical Engineering Science, 220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.115607

MLA:

Ganzer, Gunnar, and Hannsjörg Freund. "Influence of statistical activity variations in diluted catalyst beds on the thermal reactor behavior: Derivation of an a priori criterion." Chemical Engineering Science 220 (2020).

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