Methodologies for the design of reactors using structured catalysts: Modelling and experimental study of diffusion and reaction in structured catalysts

✍ Scribed by C. McGreavy; L. Draper; E.K.T. Kam

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 999 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(94)00384-x

✦ Synopsis

Ahstract-The complexity of the interactions between heat, mass and momentum transfer in catalyst

supports is a poorly charted area despite prolonged studies. It is well understood that the performance of catalysts is strongly influenced by diffusion of reactants and products in the catalyst substrate and the overall performance reflects the interaction between the intrinsic kinetics and the transport processes. To resolve this requires a detailed examination of how diffusion and convective flow interact with kinetics and how this relates to the structure of the support.

The problem is not straightfonvard because of the topological complexity of the transport networks. It is necessary to develop methodologies that can provide the basis of an objective method of determining effective transport coefficients which can be used consistently with the intrinsic kinetics to calculate effectiveness factors. The work is concerned with developing a mathematical model containing structural parameters that can be used for interpreting diffusion experiments in a way which will allow the effective transport coefficients to be used in a consistent manner under reaction conditions. This particular study is concerned with characterising pore structures in a way which takes account of pore connectivity, pore size distribution, as well as dead-end pores. This information also gives insight as to preferred structures for the catalyst support.