Transport limited pattern formation in catalytic fluid–particle systems

Agrawal, Rachana; West, David; Balakotaiah, Vemuri

doi:10.1016/j.ces.2007.09.024

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The predictions of the homogeneous and heterogeneous models may lead to qualitatively different predictions when one ignores the heat dispersion in the solid phase and when the transport between the pellet and the surrounding fluid can induce local steady-state multiplicity. A detailed analysis of when the predictions of the two models may differ was presented by Agrawal et al 86 They showed that this is likely to occur when the fluid Schmidt number is smaller than the Prandtl number. This occurs for reaction mixtures containing a large excess of hydrogen.…”

Section: Microkinetic Model Imentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transversal Hot Zones Formation in Catalytic Packed-Bed Reactors

Viswanathan

Sheintuch

Luss

2008

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Spatiotemporal patterns reported to form in the cross sections of packed-bed reactors (PBRs) may pose severe safety hazard when present next to the reactor wall. Understanding what causes their formation and dynamic features is essential for the rational development of design and control strategies that circumvent their generation. We review the current knowledge and understanding about the formation of these transversal temperature patterns. Simulations and model analysis revealed that the formation of the hot spots and their dynamics are sensitive to the assumed kinetic and reactor models. Under practical conditions, stable symmetry-breaking bifurcation to nonuniform states, from stable, stationary, transversally uniform states cannot be predicted by common PBR models with a rate expression that depends only on the surface temperature and concentration of the limiting reactant. However, analysis and simulations reveal that transient nonuniform transversal temperatures may emerge in an upstream moving traveling front under practical conditions. Microkinetic oscillatory reactions predict the formation of a plethora of intricate spatiotemporal temperature patterns and temperature front motions that are sensitive to the reactor operating conditions and properties such as diameter and initial conditions. The predicted temperature patterns may be rather intricate as a result of conjugation of several modes. The nonlinear coupling between the states at different axial positions, that is, the interaction among the local temperature and concentrations at different cross-sections of the bed, may explain the intricate conjugation of several modes and modulation of the observed spatiotemporal patterns. While some simulations predicted spatiotemporal pattern evolution in PBRs, there is a need to understand which reaction mechanisms may lead to their formation. Most previous simulations and analysis utilized two-dimensional reactor models. However, hot zones are three-dimensional structures, often very small, and difficult to detect in large reactors. A 3-D simulation, although tedious, is necessary to provide full information about the size, shape and dynamic features of small hot zones. Moreover, common PBR models may have to be modified to account for the impact of local states such as flow distribution and nonuniform packing. Verification of the various model predictions requires in situ measurements of 3-D hot zones.

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Section: Microkinetic Model Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Agrawal et al 86 extended previous analyses by accounting for the impact of the velocity variations due to the change in the physical properties on the interphase transport coefficients. They found that the variation in the transport coefficient increased the potential for generating hot zones.…”

Section: Impact Of Flow Mal-distribution and Of Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%