STEADY AND NON-STEADY STATE MODELING OF TUBULAR FIXED BED REACTORS

In this work a detailed non-steady state two dimensional heterogeneous model for a non-isothermal, non-adiabatic packed bed tubular reactor is discussed. The model has the following features: i) axial and radial heat and mass dispersion, ii) heat transfer balance for the cooling fluid, iii) comprehensive treatment of the convective term, iv) spatially-dependent physical parameters, v) radial porosity and velocity profiles. Results are given, for both steady and non-steady state situations, in the context of an industrial unit for phthalic anhydride production. Co-current flow of reactive and cooling mediums is assumed.