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Prof. K.K.Pant
Department of Chemical Engineering
IIT Delhi.
kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in
SLURRY BUBBLE COLUMN REACTORS : DESIGN APPROACH
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Steps in Slurry Reactors
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Reactions Steps in slurry reactors
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2. Rate of gas absorptions ( Hydrogenation Reaction)
Determination of RDS
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Trickle Bed Reactors
Trickle-bed reactors are the most widely used
type of three-phase reactors. The gas and liquid
co-currently flow downward over a fixed bed of
catalyst particles.
Concurrent down-flow of gas and liquid over a
fixed-bed of catalyst. Liquid trickles down, while
gas phase is continuous
In a trickle-bed, various flow regimes are
distinguished, depending on gas and liquid flow
rates, fluid properties and packing
characteristics.
Approximate dimensions of commercial trickle-bed reactors
are a height of 10 m and a diameter of 2 m.
Comparison of Three Phase
Trickle- Bed and Bubble Fixed Bed
Reactors
Overall or Apparent reaction rate (gas limiting)
Kinetic Factors
Theory of Catalytic Gas- Liquid
Reactions
A(G) + B(L) C
Gaseous reactant A reacts with non-volatile liquid
reactant B on solid catalyst sites.
Mechanism Of Three- Phase Reactions:-
Mass Transfer of component A from bulk gas to
gas-liquid interface
Mass transfer of component A from gas-liquid
interface to bulk liquid
Mass transfer of A& B from bulk liquid to catalyst
surface
Intraparticle diffusion of species A& B
through the catalyst pores to active sites.
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CAg
-r =
'
A 1 H H H
+ A + A + A
k a k a k ac k ' C f
Ag i Al i Ac A B s
First order rate constant for A
-r ' =k vgC
A Ag
Mole balance for A dF
A =r' =-k C g
dW A vg A
1 mol
-r ' = C
B 1 1 B gcat.s
+
k c ap nKC
AS
-r =k C
B vl B
where
The Rate:
Select the contactor which favors the weakest step in the
rate. (RDS)
For example,
if the main resistance lies in the G/L film, use a contactor
with large interfacial surface area.(bubble column/spray)
if the resistance lies at the L/S boundary, use a large
exterior surface of solid, thus large fs, or small particles.
if the resistance to pore diffusion intrudes, use tiny
particles.
Boosting the weakest step in the rate by a proper choice of
particle size, solid loading and reactor type can strongly affect
the overall economics of the process. 23
Example : HYDROGENATION OF ACETONE IN A PACKED BUBBLE COLUMN
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What will be the conversion of acetone in this unit?
Additional Data:
The mass transfer rate constants are estimated to be the
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CAg
-r =
'
A 1 H H H
+ A + A + A
k a k a k ac k ' C f
Ag i Al i Ac A B s
First order rate constant for A
-r ' =k vgC
A Ag
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CBo = 1000, mol/m3
CB >> CA
Since pure hydrogen; p A is constant throughout the packed column. And since
the rate is only dependent on CA and not on CB, this means that the rate of
reaction is constant throughout the column.
Thiele Modulus MT or
= 1/ = ~0.01
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Fluid- Fluid Reactions (Non catalytic)
Setting up the rate equation for straight mass transfer based
on the two film theory.
The Rate Equation for Straight Mass Transfer (Absorption) of A
Here two resistances in series, of the gas film and of the liquid
film. The rate of transfer of A from gas to liquid is given by the rate
expressions, for the gas film
Case E and F: Intermediate rate with reaction in the film and in the
main body of the liquid
Case G: Slow reaction in main body but with film resistance
Case W: Slow reaction, no mass transfer resistance
Figure : Concentration of reactants as visualized by the two-
film theory for an infinitely fast irreversible reactions of any
order, A + bB products. Case A-low CB, Case B high CB,
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General rate expression
The absorption of A from gas is larger when reaction occurs within the
liquid film than for straight mass transfer.
Thus for the same concentrations at the two boundaries of the liquid film
we have
E >1
Instantaneous Reaction with Respect to Mass Transfer. : Since an
element of liquid can contain either A or B, but not both, reaction will occur at
a plane between A-containing and B-containing liquid.
Also, since reactants must diffuse to this reaction plane the rate of diffusion of
A and B will determine the rate, so that a change in p, or C, will move the
plane one way or the other
kAg, and kAl ,: mass transfer coefficients in gas and liquid
phases. The liquid side coefficients are for straight mass transfer
without chemical reaction and are therefore based on flow
through the whole film of thickness x0.
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General rate expression
The absorption of A from gas is larger when reaction occurs within the
liquid film than for straight mass transfer.
Thus for the same concentrations at the two boundaries of the liquid film
we have
E >1
If MH >>1, all reaction occurs in the film, and surface area is the controlling rate
factor.
On the other hand, if MH <<1 no reaction occurs in the film, and bulk volume
becomes the controlling rate factor. More precisely, it has been found
that:
(a) locate the resistance to reaction (what % is in the gas film, in the liquid
film, in the main body of liquid)
(b) locate the reaction zone
(c) determine the behavior in the liquid film (whether pseudo first-order
reaction,
instantaneous, physical transport, etc.)
(d) calculate the rate of reaction (mol/m3 hr)
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Eliminating the unmeasured intermediates x, x0, pAi, CAi,
For the special case of negligible gas-phase resistance, for example, if you used
pure reactant A in the gas phase, then
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Slow reactions Case G still shows film resistance. Case H shows no film
resistance.
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Factors to Consider in Selecting a Contactor
(a) Contacting pattern.
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