Overview Industrial Reactors

The present chapter is not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, an attempt has been made to introduce the reader to the major concepts and tools used by catalytic reaction engineers. In order to give the reader a feel of the applicability of these concepts and tools. Section 8.2 gives an overview of the most important industrial reactors. Section 8.3 is a review of ideal reactor types. Emphasis is placed on the way mathematical model equations are constructed for each reactor category. Basically, this boils down to the application of the conservation laws of mass, energy and possibly momentum. Section 8.4 presents an analysis of the effect of the finite rate at which reaction species and/or heat are supplied to or removed from the locus of reaction, i.e. the catalytic site. Finally, the material developed in Sections 8.3 and 8.4 is applied to the design of laboratory reactors and the analysis of rate data in Section 8.5. 

Overview—Chapter 1, This chapter develops the first building block of chemical reaction engineering, mole balances, that will be used continually throughout the text. After completing this chapter the reader will be able to describe and define the rate of reaction, derive the general mole balance equation, and apply the genera mole balance equation to the four most common types of industrial reactors. 

The present chapter is aimed to provide a simplified overview of the catalytic reactors used in chemical industry. Each reactor type is described in terms of its key geometric properties, operating characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks among its alternatives and typical areas of use. The significance of the reactors is explained in the context of selected industrial examples. Industrial reactors that do not involve the use of solid catalysts are also discussed. 

In this chapter the scene is set. It is supposed that chemical synthesis and kinetic experiments are followed by chemical reactor development. The objectives of chemical reactor development have to be put in the context of chemical industry. The ultimate goal is either the design of a new industrial reactor or the optimisation of an existing one. When all the details of a chemical reaction are known, additional information on physical transport phenomena is needed for the design of a chemical reactor. Also, the chemical reactor has to be considered as part of an industrial plant. This chapter gives a qualitative overview of the topics that are treated in the following chapters. 

Overview. In the hrst chapter, the general mole balance equation was derived and then applied to the four most commcm types of industrial reactors. A balance equation was deveicqred fcM each reactor type and these equations are summarized in Table 1 in Chapter L In Chapter 2, we will show how to size and arrange these reactors conceptually, so that the reader may see the structure of CRE design and will not get lost in the mathematical details. 

Several reported chemical systems of gas-liquid precipitation are first reviewed from the viewpoints of both experimental study and industrial application. The characteristic feature of gas-liquid mass transfer in terms of its effects on the crystallization process is then discussed theoretically together with a summary of experimental results. The secondary processes of particle agglomeration and disruption are then modelled and discussed in respect of the effect of reactor fluid dynamics. Finally, different types of gas-liquid contacting reactor and their respective design considerations are overviewed for application to controlled precipitate particle formation. 

Overview of Microwave Reactor Design and Laboratory and Industrial Equipment... 

After some considerations relating to microwave technology, we will examine microwave ovens and reactor background. The limits of domestic ovens and temperature measurements will be analyzed, as well as design principles of microwave applicators. Next, a brief overview of laboratory, experimental and industrial equipment will be given. 

Rautenbach and MeUis [75] describe a process in which a UF-membrane fermentor and a subsequent NF-treatment of the UF-permeate are integrated. The retentate of the NF-step is recycled to the feed of the UF-membrane reactor (Fig. 13.8). This process has been commercialised by Wehrle-Werk AG as the Biomembrat -plus system [76] and is well suited for the treatment of effluents with recalcitrant components. The process also allows for an additional treatment process, like adsorption or chemical oxidation of the NF-retentate, before returning the NF-retentate to the feed of the UF-membrane fermentor. Usually, the efficiency of these treatment processes is increased as the NF-retentate contains higher concentrations of these components. Pilot tests with landfiU leachates [75] and wastewater from cotton textile and tannery industry have been reported [77]. An overview of chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and COD concentrations in the permeate are shown in... 

A brief overview of enzyme reactors used for application of immobilized biocatalysts in the laboratory and on the industrial scale is given in Fig. 7-35. Examples of industrial processes are given in [2] and [20]. 

A short description of possible nuclear applications of boron-based materials had been done by Potapov (1961) in an old overview that included the nuclear power industry (e.g., control rods of nuclear reactors) solid-state electronics (e.g., counters of neutrons and neutron energy sensors) radiation chemistry (e.g., acceleration of technological processes) etc. For these purposes, "B nuclei are useless, but °B nuclei are useful due to a large cross section of interaction with thermal neutrons, °B converts them into heavy ionizing particles. Besides, °B isotope is applicable for neutron radiation protection (Stantso 1983) and also in medicine, e.g., in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for treating cancer tumors (Desson 2007). 

This chapter gives an overview of the synthesis procedures and applications of zeolite membranes (gas separation, pervaporation, and zeolite-membrane reactors), as well as new emerging applications in the micro- and nanotechnology field. It is important to note that, up to now, pervaporation is the only large-scale industrial application and gas separation is still not implemented at industrial level for zeolite membranes. Related areas such as new zeolite and zeolite-related materials for membranes, alternative supports, and scale-up issues are also discussed. 

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