Effect of the catalyst pore structure on fixed-bed reactor performance of partial oxidation of n-butane: A simulation study. (13th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Ying; Keil, Frerich J.; Korup, Oliver; Rosowski, Frank; Horn, Raimund
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 142(2016)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 309
• Publication Date: 2016-03-13
• Subjects: Fixed-bed reactor -- n-Butane oxidation -- VPP catalyst -- Heterogeneous model -- Pore structure -- Model of Wakao and Smith; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2015.12.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Abstract: The effect of catalyst pore structure on n-butane oxidation to maleic anhydride in a fixed-bed reactor was investigated by numerical simulations. The micro- and macro-pore model of Wakao and Smith was applied to model the diffusion–reaction inside the catalyst pellet. The studied pore structure parameters were macro-pore porosity, mean macro-pore diameter and mean micro- pore diameter. A fixed-bed reactor was simulated with a detailed two-dimensional heterogeneous model under typical industrial conditions. Simulation results have demonstrated that the reactor performance is sensitive to the chosen pore structure parameters especially macro-pore porosity and mean micro-pore diameter. A bi-modal catalyst pellet with bigger macro-pores and smaller micro-pores is favored to achieve higher yields of maleic anhydride. This work highlights the potential of improving this process by pore structure optimization. Abstract : Highlights: n-Butane oxidation to maleic anhydride in a fixed-bed reactor was simulated. A two-dimensional pseudo-heterogeneous model was developed. Macro- and micro-pore model of Wakao and Smith was adopted. Pore structure parameters of the pellet have impacts on the reactor performance. Catalyst pellet with optimal pore structure can improve the yield by several percent.