Multifunctional reactors

Mathpati, C.S. and Joshi, J.B. (2007) Insight into theories of heat and mass transfer at the solid/fluid interface using direct numerical simulation and large eddy simulation. Joint 6th International Symposium on Catalysis in Multiphase Reactors/5th International Symposium on Multifunctional Reactors (CAMURE-6/ISMR-5-), 2007, Pune. 

Smart chemical reaction engineering can also solve the separation problem. Multifunctional reactors based on distillation or membrane separation wil gain importance in the future (see also Chapter 6). 

Novel processing methods, such as integration of reaction and one or more unit operations in so-called multifunctional reactors and integration of two or more separation techniques in hybrid separations Use of alternative forms and sources of energy for chemical processing Novel methods of process/plant development and operation... 

Multifunctional reactors can be described as reactors that, alongside chemical conversion (and for the sake of it), integrate at least one more function (usually unit operation) that conventionally would have to be performed in a separate... 

Fuel cells present another widely investigated type of multifunctional reactors, in which chemical reaction is integrated with the generation of electric power (73). Simultaneous gas-solid reaction and comminution in a multifunctional reactor has also been investigated (74). 

Lebens PJM, Kapteijn F, Sie ST, Moulijn JA. Potentials of internally finned monoliths as a packing for multifunctional reactors. Chem Eng Sci 1999 54 1359-1365. 

Figure 1 Reactive separation units as multifunctional reactors. (Inspired by Ref. 4.)...

Kenig EY, Kloker M, Egorov Y, Menter F, Gorak A. Towards improvement of reactive separation performance using computational fluid dynamics. Proceedings of International Symposium on Multifunctional Reactors (ISMR-2), Nuremberg, 2001. 

Stankiewicz and Moulijn further divide PI into two areas equipment and methods. They give an extensive list of equipment examples. The methods are subdivided into multifunctional reactors, hybrid separations, alternative energy sources, and other methods. 

For multifunctional equipment, Siirola provides a general description of functions and how to combine them into a piece of equipment (36). Functions operating in the same temperature and pressure range can be combined in one piece of equipment. Multifunctional reactors represent one subclass of solutions with promising features in cost and energy requirements (37). 

Case SP Shell International Chemicals—PDC Bulk Chemical Process Design (37). This new process design consists of a multifunctional reactor, which largely combines reaction, heat exchange, and component separation in one piece of equipment. Data on energy and cost element reductions are provided. 

Harmsen GJ, Chewter L. Industrial applications of multi-functional, multi-phase reactors. Int. Symp. Multifunctional Reactors I, Amsterdam, 26-28 April 1999. Chem Eng Sci 1999 54 1541-1545. 

The above considerations indicate that, independent of implementation details, the space-time yield of endothermic reactions could be significantly enhanced by shifting the reaction site to the heat-exchanging surfaces. This intention has led to the production of a large variety of multifunctional reactor concepts for coupling endothermic and exothermic reactions. In the following section the state of the art in this area will be discussed for selected examples. 

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