A novel approach to modelling trickle bed reactors

Abstract

In this contribution, the development of a toolbox for the simulation of trickle bed reactors based on a model able to account for the local properties of the liquid and gas flow in a packed bed at particle scale is introduced. The implementation uses a modular and flexible setup, with local liquid distribution considered as a function of the operating conditions and the physical properties of the three phases. Moreover, the impact of the local incomplete wetting on the conversion, as well as the mass transport and kinetics at both particle and reactor scale are accounted for. Furthermore, different particle geometries are considered, and the model is able to reliably predict the performance of the catalytic trickle bed reactors.