Abstract
Trickle-bed reactor (TBR) modelling to produce green fuel via hydrocracking of jatropha oil using silica-alumina-supported Ni-W catalysts was performed in this research. The objectives of this study are to obtain a TBR with good heat transfer and the optimum condition for high purities of products. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model with a diameter of 0.1 m and a length of 10 m was used as a representative of the actual TBR system. Heterogeneous phenomenological models were developed considering mass, energy, and momentum transfers. The optimisation was conducted to obtain the highest green fuel purity by varying catalyst particle diameter, inlet gas velocity, feed molar ratio, and inlet temperature. The simulation shows that a TBR with an aspect ratio of 100 has achieved a good heat transfer. The diesel purity reaches 44.22% at 420°C, kerosene purity reaches 21.39% at 500°C, and naphtha purity reaches 25.30% at 500°C. The optimum condition is reached at the catalyst diameter of 1 mm, the inlet gas velocity of 1 cm/s, the feed molar ratio of 105.5, and the inlet temperature at 500°C with the green fuel purity of 69.4%.
Highlights
In recent years, the development of renewable fuel sources has become a focus in the science and energy sectors
An aspect ratio of 100 was used to observe the temperature distribution in the reactor bed. e hydrocracking process was simulated in excess hydrogen
Since the reaction is exothermic, the reactor bed is cooled by a cooling medium, providing the reactor wall with a temperature of 420°C. e process parameters used in this simulation are listed in Table 4. e simulation was performed numerically using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3
Summary
Modelling of Jatropha Oil Hydrocracking in a Trickle-Bed Reactor to Produce Green Fuel. Trickle-bed reactor (TBR) modelling to produce green fuel via hydrocracking of jatropha oil using silica-alumina-supported Ni-W catalysts was performed in this research. E objectives of this study are to obtain a TBR with good heat transfer and the optimum condition for high purities of products. E optimisation was conducted to obtain the highest green fuel purity by varying catalyst particle diameter, inlet gas velocity, feed molar ratio, and inlet temperature. E diesel purity reaches 44.22% at 420°C, kerosene purity reaches 21.39% at 500°C, and naphtha purity reaches 25.30% at 500°C. e optimum condition is reached at the catalyst diameter of 1 mm, the inlet gas velocity of 1 cm/s, the feed molar ratio of 105.5, and the inlet temperature at 500°C with the green fuel purity of 69.4% Heterogeneous phenomenological models were developed considering mass, energy, and momentum transfers. e optimisation was conducted to obtain the highest green fuel purity by varying catalyst particle diameter, inlet gas velocity, feed molar ratio, and inlet temperature. e simulation shows that a TBR with an aspect ratio of 100 has achieved a good heat transfer. e diesel purity reaches 44.22% at 420°C, kerosene purity reaches 21.39% at 500°C, and naphtha purity reaches 25.30% at 500°C. e optimum condition is reached at the catalyst diameter of 1 mm, the inlet gas velocity of 1 cm/s, the feed molar ratio of 105.5, and the inlet temperature at 500°C with the green fuel purity of 69.4%
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