The choice between cooled tubular reactor models: analysis of the hot spot

E.J. Westerink, N. Koster, K.R. Westerterp

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    Abstract

    The applicability of the one-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model of the cooled tubular reactor is studied. Using the two-dimensional model as the more accurate one we compared both models by studying the influence of the design and operating variables on the conditions in the hot spot of the reactor. The effects were studied on an analytical basis, and a relation is derived that describes the radial temperature profile in the hot spot of the reactor. In the first section we present the model equations and discuss the results obtained from a numerical evaluation. In the second section we compare mean and maximum radial temperatures and reaction rates in case a single exothermic reaction is carried out. We conclude that—for reactors operating in the steady state—in the hot spot the one-dimensional model predicts the proper temperature when it is compared with the average temperature calculated by the two-dimensional model, although large differences may arise between maximum and mean radial temperature. A new method is presented to obtain the maximum radial temperature in the hot spot directly from the results of the one-dimensional model. It was found that there can be large differences between the actual average reaction rate and the reaction rate at mean temperature as obtained from the one-dimensional model.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3443-3455
    JournalChemical engineering science
    Volume45
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1990

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