Gas–liquid upflow packed bed reactors: a comprehensive review focused on heat transport

Abstract

A review of the available information about the packed bed reactors with cocurrent upflow of gas and liquid (UFRs), particularly focused on heat transfer with an external medium through the container wall, was undertaken in this contribution. The typical use of such reactors is summarized as well as some novel applications. A brief discussion about fluid-dynamics is also made due to its strong effect on the transport processes. Experimental setup, available data, and literature correlations of heat transfer parameters are thoroughly reviewed. From a critical analysis of the experimental data, a refined database has been built, which allows comparing the performance of the existing correlations for the two parameters of the extensively employed two-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous plug flow model (i.e., effective radial thermal conductivity and wall heat transfer coefficient). In addition, new correlations for these parameters have been developed, which allow improving the actual predictive capabilities. Finally, the global heat transfer between the bed and the wall was comparatively analyzed for upflow (UFRs) and downflow (TBRs) gas–liquid packed bed reactors.