Theoretical modelling of catalytic reactions in fluidized beds

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 69; no. 11; pp. 1428 - 1434
• Main Authors: Matos, M.Arlindo A., Pereira, Fernando J.M.A., Ventura, João M.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; catalysis; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; fluidized beds; Furnaces. Firing chambers. Burners; General. Equipment design. General computation; modelling; catalysis; modelling; fluidized beds; Catalytic reaction; Fluidized bed combustion; Kinetics; Performance; Modeling; Comparative study; Mass transfer
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-2361(90)90125-A

A new concept in theoretical modelling of catalytic reactions in fluidized beds is presented. In this approach the continuity equation is solved and the gas concentration profiles inside and outside the reactive particle were obtained. These were then combined to obtain a global mass transfer resistance that could be expressed as a sum of three resistances in series to the fluxes through the particle pores, the particle boundary layer and the bed itself, respectively. The calculations were made for typical flow pattern models in fluid beds: the performance of four of these models was then compared. Application of these models to a size distribution of non-spherical particles was made possible by introducing the concept of ‘equivalent reaction radius’.