Non-isothermal catalytic wall reactions

Abstract

A reacting gas flows along a tube and passes over a catalytic coating which begins at x=0. A strong exothermic reaction which is temperature dependent occurs at the wall of the tube leading to a local “hot spot” near x=0. It is assumed that the surface temperature of the catalyst is controlled by conduction of heat through the metal wall of the tube, heat transfer into the gas being negligible. The equations governing the gas concentration and the metal temperature are reduced to a pair of coupled integral equations which are solved numerically. The temperature distribution at the wall of the tube is determined and axial conduction of heat in the metal casing is shown to be important.