A cross-flow reactor: Theoretical model for first order kinetics

Abstract

The-phase reactions (gas, liquid, solid catalyst) have traditionally been carried out in slurry, fluid-bed, and trickle-bed reactors. In this paper a cross-flow reactor has been modeled in which liquid flows through channels in one direction and fills the catalytic porous walls, while gas flows at right angles in alternate channels. The walls are considered as idealized pores with reactant gas at one end and liquid reactant at the other. Flow through the channels is laminar and concentration profiles are given by the Leveque or Graetz solutions. Coupling of the pore and channel equations occurs at the walls, where different boundary conditions are examined. Operation of the reactor at total liquid recycle is treated and the concentration of reactant as a function of time is presented at a value of the Thiele modulus, initial reactant ratio, and Peclet number representative of experiments for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzoic acid.