Chapter 5 Reactor Design and Reactor Network
Short Description
Process & Plant Design lecture note...
Description
Types of Reactor models available in the simulators (Hysys Chemical Reactors). Design a system for heat transfer in association with the reactor, to sustain an exothermic or endothermic reaction s at its desired temperature level. Determine if a reactor network should be considered.
Process simulators offer four kinds of reactor models 1.) a stochiometric model that permits the specification on reactant conversions and extents of reaction for one or more specified reactions 2.) a model for multiple phases (vapor, liquid and solid) in chemical equilibrium 3.) a kinetic model for a continuous-stirred –tank reactor (CSTR) that assumes perfect mixing of homogeneous phases (liquid or vapor). 4.) a kinetic model for a plug-flow tubular reactor (PFTR or PFR), for homogeneous phases (liquid or vapor) and assuming no backmixing (dispersion).
Early stages of process synthesis, reactor effluents and heat duties are needed.
For reactor models in simulators, it is necessary to provide R chemical reactions involving C chemical species:
is the chemical formula for species j and is the stoichiometric coefficient for species j in reaction i (negative for reactants, positive for products).
Fractional conversion, Xk of key reactant, k,
The extent of reaction i,
For the conversion of CO and H2 to CH3OH, assuming an initial feed of 100 kmol/hr of CO and 600 kmol/hr H2 and 70% conversion of CO (key component), calculate the molar flowrates of the three components in the reactor effluent.
= 0+70(1) = 70 kmol/hr, where
Reactions must be specified as series or parallel. For parallel reactions, specify the extent of reaction for each reaction, which result in
General Stoichiometric Equation:
For a specific feed composition and final temperature and pressure, the product composition at chemical equilibrium can be computed by: 1.) chemical equilibrium constants (K-values): from Gibbs energy of reaction combined with material balance equations.
2.) the minimization of the Gibbs energy of the reacting system.
Chemical equilibrium constant, K
For gas solution:
The van’t Hoff equation relates K to temperature by
Integration and conversion to log10 gives:
For the gas-phase reaction of CO and H2 to form methanol over a temperature of 273 K to 773 K,
Chemical equilibrium curves can be represented by this equation.
The methanol synthesis reaction is catalyzed by copper-zinc oxide, at a pressure of 100 bar and temperature of 3000C. A large excess of hydrogen is used to absorb the relatively high heat of reaction. At these conditions,
K = 0.0002202 ,
(1)
The equilibrium mole fractions are: Where X is the equilibrium fractional conversion of CO
(2) (3) (4)
Combining four equations to give a nonlinear equation in X and solving gives X = 0.7087
The total Gibbs energy, G is a minimum at constant temperature and pressure. Advantages: (1) the avoidance to formulate stoichiometric equations (only the possible products need to be specified) (2)the ease of formulation for multiple phases and simultaneous phase equilibrium For a single phase, Gibbs energy at specified T and P,
Ni is the mole number of component i, Partial molar Gibbs energy of component i in the equilibrium state
Fractional conversion and equilibrium reactor models are useful in the early stages of process design (material and energy balance studies). Reactor systems must be configured and sized Power-law expression are used for regression of laboratory kinetic data.
The reaction rate coefficient is a function of temperature ( Arrhenius equation):
For reactions catalyzed by catalyst particles:
Laboratory kinetic data for the air-oxidation of SO2 to SO3 are fitted by the LangmuirHinshelwood equation:
Simplest kinetic reactor model: 1.) Perfectly mixed 2.) composition and temperature are uniform throughout the reactor volume and equal to the composition and temperature of the reactor effluent. 3.) There is a residence-time distribution Consider the existence of multiple solutions
Composition of the fluid flowing as a plug, gradually changes down the length of the reactor, with no compositions or temperature gradients in the radial direction. Mass and heat transfer rates are negligible in the axial direction.
Simulators: One dimensional, plug flow models neglect axial dispersion. No radial gradients of temp, composition or pressure. Mass diffusion and heat conduction do not occur in the axial direction. Adiabatic operation, a mole balance for limiting reactant A
The energy balance for adiabatic operation
Adiabatic operation is always considered first because it provides the simplest and least-expensive reactor. When reactions are highly exothermic or endothermic, desire to exercise some control over the temperature. Methods include: a) Heat transfer to or from the reacting fluid, across a wall, to or from an external cooling or heating agent b) An inert or reactive heat carrier or diluent in reacting fluid c) A series of reactor beds with a heat-exchanger for cooling or heating between each pair of beds d) Cold shot cooling or hot shot heating, where the combined feed is split into two or more parts, one of which enters at the reactor entrance while the remaining parts enter the reactor at other locations. Measure of the degree of exothermicity or endothermicity of a reaction is the adiabatic temperature rise (ATR)
Manufacture of phthalic anhydride, produced by the oxidation of orthoxylene with air in the presence of vanadium pentoxide catalyst. The reaction is carried out at 375oC and 1.2 atm, is highly exorthermic with ATR 1170oC. Reactor resembles a vertical shell-and-tube heat exchanger. Hundreds of long tubes of small diameter, inside the shell, are packed with catalyst through which reacting gas passes downwards. A heat transfer medium consisting of a sodium nitrite-potassium nitrate fused salt circulates outside the tubes through the shell to remove the heat of reaction.
Styrene is produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene at 1.2 atm and 575oC. The reaction is endothermic, with ATR -460oC. If operated adiabatically, temperature of reacting fluid decrease, reaction rate would be unable to compromise, resulting in a very large reactor volume. To maintain a reasonable temperature, large amount of steam is added , preheated to 625oC before entering the reactor. The steam is inert and easily recovered from the reactor effluent by condensation. The presence of steam reduced the reaction rate, but the reactor can be operated adiabatically.
Sulfur trioxide, which is used to make sulfuric acid, is produced by catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide in air with vanadium pentoxide catalyst at 1.2 atm and 450oC. Reaction is highly exothermic with an ATR 710oC. The reactor system consists of four adiabatic reactor beds of same diameter but different height, in series with a heat exchanger between each pair beds. The temperature rises adiabatically in each reactor bed, the hot reactor effluent is cooled in the heat exchanger positioned before the next bed.
When the ATR is higher, such as in the manufacture of ammonia from synthesis gas, the cold-shot design is recommended.
Desire to reduce the vessel volume to a minimum.
If z is the direction down to length of the reactor, the trajectory of the mass and energy balance equations for a single reaction in X (z) and T (z) space is adjusted to match the trajectory corresponding to the maximum reaction rate (X*, T*) (curved line) as closely as possible.
An exothermic reversible reaction in a PFR. The rate of the reverse reaction increases more rapidly with increasing temperature than the rate of the forward reaction. Reverse reaction is slow and the forward reaction fast at low temperatures. For maximum rate of reaction, the temperature should be high at low conversions. For maximum rate of reaction, the temperature should be low at high conversions.
Reaction rate for a sequence of fractional conversions, X, starting with X1= 0 is plotted against temperature, T. Maximum rate corresponding to solid line passing through point B and C, maximum reaction rate decreasing with increasing fractional conversion.
The feed enters at temperature, TA with reaction rate at point A. If the entering temperature cannot be increased, best to operate isothermally at TA until the conversion at point C reached, follow optimal profile CB to the desired conversion. If exit conversion is X4, the desired reactor temperature trajectory is solid line ACB with reactor exit temperature TB.
If the PFR operates at isothermal temperature TA, it follows trajectory ACD. Reaction rates are not at their maximum except at point C. Thus it requires a larger reactor volume. For CSTR operation, the optimal temperature of operation for achieving X4 would be TB, to achieve maximum reaction rate.
Reactor feed temperature affect the stability of an autothermal reactor. Autothermal reactor: reactor whose feed is preheated by its effluent. For a reversible exothermic reaction, heat generation rate varies nonlinearly with the reaction temperature.
At low temp, rate of heat generation is limited by the low rate of the forward reaction. At high temp, rate of reaction is limited by equilibrium. The reaction rate exhibits a maximum value at intermediate temp. The rate of heat removal is linear with the reaction temperature, as heat transfer by convection is dominant.
The intersection of the heat removal line (b) and heat generation line (a) leads to: (O) the non-reacting state, (I) the ignition point and (S) the desired operating point. Both non-reacting state and desired operating point, small positive pertubation in the reactor temp. leads to heat removal rate > heat generation rate, decreases reactor temperature. Oppositely, small negative pertubation of reactor temp. leads to heat generation > heat removal rate and thus increases the reactor temperature.
Temperature difference between Points I and S as the stability margin. A design with increased rate of heat transfer (b’) have a lower stability margin. Catalyst deactivation lead to loss of stability, as decreased catalyst activity leads to lower heat generation rates (a’).
Attainable region: the achievable compositions that may be obtained from a network of chemical reactors. Consider the reaction below:
Reactions 1, 2 and 3 are first-order in A, B and B; Reation 4 is second-order in A.
Feed of A: 1kmol/m3
Attainable Region (AR) boundary compose of an arc representing a CSTR with bypass (curve C), A CSTR (point O) and A CSTR followed by a PFR (curve D). The appropriate reactor configuration depends on the desired effluent concentration of A. When 1 >CA>0.38 kmol/m3, maximum concentration B achieved by CSTR with bypass. When CA
View more...
Comments
