Mathematical modeling of the process of isothermal ortho-para conversion
Production of liquid hydrogen includes a stage of ortho-para conversion (i.e., obtaining the para form equilibrated to the saturation temperature), without which prolonged storage of liquid hydrogen is not possible. Obviously, it is economically expedient to withdraw some of the heat of the ortho-para transition at the highest temperature level using the liquid nitrogen cooling loop traditionally used in hydrogen equipment. According to current terminology, equipment for carrying out ortho-para conversion with cooling by a boiling cryogenic agent are called isothermal converters. This does not reflect the essence of the process since it actually occurs at a variable temperature, despite the fact that the initial and final temperatures of the process are equal in some cases. Characteristics of the process of isothermal ortho-para conversion have been studied for the following assumptions: the reaction occurs in the kinetic region, the rate constant for the chemical reaction does not depend on temperature, the catalyst is a homogeneous irregulate structure, the apparatus is an ideal displacement reactor, the thermal resistance of the walls of the reactor tubes is negligibly small, and there is no economizer zone.
- OSTI ID:
- 39227
- Journal Information:
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Vol. 30, Issue 7-8; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995; TN: Translated from Khimicheskoe i Neftyanoe Mashinostroenie; No. 7, 20-22(Jul 1994)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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