Flow Analysis in a Radial Flow Fixed Bed Reactor

Tomida, Mai; Stolo, Anthony David; Polcari, Dominick Steven

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Flow Analysis in a Radial Flow Fixed Bed Reactor Public

When designing radial flow fixed bed reactors, one of the most prevalent design tasks is ensuring proper distribution through the catalyst bed. Utilizing Comsol Multiphysics, a 2-D axis symmetric model was tested to evaluate the level of maldistribution of flow through the catalyst bed. Specifically, the effects of flow direction, catalyst size, overall and variable screen resistance, and the total amount of flow through the reactor. Maldistribution findings were based on a velocity profile through the catalyst bed.

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