Dual-series solution for the effectiveness factor of partially wetted catalysts in trickle-bed reactors

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/i160070a009· OSTI ID:6732917

Mills, P L; Dudukovic, M P

A model which accounted for the effect of incomplete external catalyst wetting and fractional pore filling on the catalyst effectiveness factor in trickle beds was developed for isothermal, irreversible reactions that are first order with respect to the nonvolatile liquid reactant and that are typical of petroleum refining. The boundary conditions gave an unconventional type of dual-series equations with complex multipliers; these equations were solved by a numerical method based on residual least-square minimization to yield the catalyst effectiveness for slab, cylindrical, and spherical catalyst geometries. The catalyst effectiveness was a function of the external contacting efficiency, the fractional pore fillup, and the Thiele modulus. At all values of the Theile modulus, the other two factors have strong effects. The method is also applicable to other mixed-boundary value problems in chemical engineering.

• Research Organization: Wash. Univ., St. Louis
• OSTI ID: 6732917
• Journal Information: Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam.; (United States), Journal Name: Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam.; (United States) Vol. 18:2; ISSN IECFA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONFIGURATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
KINETICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
REACTORS
REFINING