Modeling of bubble column slurry reactors for multiple reactions.

A model of an isothermal bubble column slurry reactor for an arbitrary reaction network of R independent reactions and S reacting species were developed. The model accounts for gas velocity variations due to a change in total number of moles during reaction, and for nonuniform catalyst distribution due to gravity settling. It is assumed that the gas phase is in plug flow and the batch liquid phase is unmixed, which is characteristic of pilot plant reactors with high aspect ratios. The minimum number of differential equations required for the complete description of the system is shown to be equal to the total number of independent reactions. A system of two series parallel reactions, representative of Fischer Tropsch synthesis, was used to study the effect of catalyst dispersion and model parameters on reactor performance. It was found that nonuniform catalyst distribution generally has a negative effect on conversion. (A)

Modeling of bubble column slurry reactors for multiple reactions. Academic Article