CHEMICAL KINETICS AND TRANSPORT RATES IN FLUID SOLID CATALYTIC REACTORS

Abstract

The influence of physical transport resistances on observed rates of catalytic reactions can modify significantly the conversion, selectivity and stability of fluid-solid reactors. The modifying effects depend on reactor type and size, and, therefore, are critical in scale up from laboratory to commercial-scale equipment. Recent developments relating intrinsic kinetics to reactor performance through the use of mass and energy transfer rates are analyzed in this paper. In particular the relative importance of intrareactor, fluid-particle, and intraparticle mass and heat transfer limitations are considered for fixed-bed catalytic reactors. Criteria for establishing whether various types of transport processes seriously influence reactor performance are also included. Precautions necessary in order to obtain reliable rate data from laboratory reactors are discussed.