Abstract
A dynamic model of an industrial packed-bed multi-tubular reactor was developed to investigate performance of an industrial ethylene oxide (EO) reactor, conducting epoxidation of ethylene over a silver-based catalyst. The set of nonlinear kinetic rate equations for the catalytic oxidation process in the presence of ethylene dichloride (EDC) as a moderator was coupled with the governing heat and mass transfer equations along the packed bed. Catalyst deactivation was modelled as a nonlinear function of operating time and the equation was benchmarked against plant data for the period of operation. Our process model was compared with experimental data obtained from an industrial EO reactor. The model predictions were found to agree well with the plant data. The influences of operating parameters such as EDC level, reactant concentrations, reactor pressure, coolant temperature and the feed temperature on reactor performance were investigated. The variables having significant impact on work rate and selectivity were identified. The model was used to optimise the performance of ethylene oxide reactor for maximising work rate and selectivity.
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