A Homogeneous Model for Reactant Conversions in a Vertical Pneumatic Transport Reactor for Catalytic Reactions

Abstract

A homogeneous model which takes into consideration the hydrodynamic properties and catalyst deactivation is developed to account for the gas conversion in a vertical pneumatic transport reactor for catalytic reactions. The model also takes into consideration the entrance effect in the reactor. When the particle diameter is as small as 40 μm, the numerical simulation based on the model indicates that, over the wide range of particle densities considered, the increase in the particle density increases the void fraction and decreases the linear particle velocity and gas conversion. Comparisons are made between the present model and the simplified model, which assumes that the slip velocity is equal to the particle terminal velocity and that there is no entrance effect in the reactor. The results of the variation of the reactant conversion with the superficial gas velocity as a function of the solid flowrate show that the differences between these two models are significant.