Prediction of axial concentration profiles in catalytic fluidized reactors

Abstract

AbstractA previous study by Fryer and Potter (1976) of the catalytic decomposition of ozone in a bubbling fluidized‐bed reactor is considered in the light of a recently developed reactor model. It is shown that since in‐bed sampling leads to an averaged concentration that is biased toward the emulsion‐phase gas composition, an increase in the ozone concentration in the sampled gas is predicted as the probe is raised above the bubbling bed. The analysis, which does not have to assume gas backmixing, shows that the minima in the ozone concentration profiles associated with this transition occurs between Hmf and H, the expanded bed height, and may even occur at lower points in the bed at higher excess fluidizing velocities. The model also correctly predicts the overall conversion of ozone as a function of the reaction rate constant and gas velocity without resorting to the fitting of any parameters.