Chemical reaction engineering aspects of a rotary reactor for carbothermal synthesis of SiC

Abstract

Heat transfer in a rotary reactor is described for a reactor consisting of a graphite tube with graphite heating elements, and operating at temperatures between 1773 and 2273 K. Under those conditions heat transfer is very good due to radiation and the high thermal conductivity of graphite. An overall coefficient of heat transfer of at least 400 W/m2K is estimated. As an example of the application of a rotary reactor the carbothermal production of SiC is described. A general conclusion is that rotary reactors are well suited for the endothermal reactions.