A SIMULATION STUDY OF ROTARY REACTOR PERFORMANCE

A model has been developed to describe the performance of rotary reactors by predicting (i) reactant conversion; (ii) axial temperature profiles of gas, granulated solids, and reactor wall; and (iii) location of reactor zones. The model includes detailed description of particle motions in the turnover processes and relates these mechanics to radial and axial heat and mass transfer coefficients.

To apply the model to a specific reaction, a kinetics equation was chosen that is commonly used for solid decompositions, and a numerical study was carried out to simulate the steady state system behavior in response to changes in feed conditions, residence times, and chemical rate and thermodynamic parameters. The sensitivity studies showed that gas inlet temperature, solids flow rate, and kinetic parameters are the most significant process determinants, but that the effects of rotation speed, heat of reaction, and heat transfer rate between reacting solids and the reactor wall are relatively small. Furthermore, the effect on the overall reaction process of solids residence time distribution is virtually negligible.