Particle size reactors

The enthalpy of the copolymerization of trioxane is such that bulk polymerization is feasible. For production, molten trioxane, initiator, and comonomer are fed to the reactor a chain-transfer agent is in eluded if desired. Polymerization proceeds in bulk with precipitation of polymer and the reactor must supply enough shearing to continually break up the polymer bed, reduce particle size, and provide good heat transfer. The mixing requirements for the bulk polymerization of trioxane have been reviewed (22). Raw copolymer is obtained as fine emmb or flake containing imbibed formaldehyde and trioxane which are substantially removed in subsequent treatments which may be combined with removal of unstable end groups. 

The batch process is similar to the semibatch process except that most or all of the ingredients are added at the beginning of the reaction. Heat generation during a pure batch process makes reactor temperature control difficult, especially for high soHds latices. Seed, usually at 5—10% soHds, is routinely made via a batch process to produce a uniform particle-size distribution. Most kinetic studies and models are based on batch processes (69). 

Fluidized-bed reaction systems are not normally shut down for changing catalyst. Fresh catalyst is periodically added to manage catalyst activity and particle size distribution. The ALMA process includes faciUties for adding back both catalyst fines and fresh catalyst to the reactor. 

The catalysts used in this CCR commercial service must meet several stringent physical property requirements. A spherical particle is required so that the catalyst flows in a moving bed down through the process reactors and regenerator vessel. These spheres must be able to withstand the physical abuse of being educated and transferred by gas flow at high velocity. The catalyst particles must also have the proper physical properties, such as particle size, porosity, and poresize distribution, to achieve adequate coke combustion kinetics. 

It follows that the position of thermodynamic equilibrium will change along the reactor for those reactions in which a change of tire number of gaseous molecules occurs, and therefore that the degree of completion and heat production or absorption of the reaction will also vaty. This is why the external control of the independent container temperature and the particle size of the catalyst are important factors in reactor design. 

As mentioned in Section 2.2 (Fixed-Bed Reactors) and in the Micro activity test example, even fluid-bed catalysts are tested in fixed-bed reactors when working on a small scale. The reason is that the experimental conditions in laboratory fluidized-bed reactors can not even approach that in production units. Even catalyst particle size must be much smaller to get proper fluidization. The reactors of ARCO (Wachtel, et al, 1972) and that of Kraemer and deLasa (1988) are such attempts. 

Equation 6-108 is also a good approximation for a fluidized bed reactor up to the minimum fluidizing condition. However, beyond this range, fluid dynamic factors are more complex than for the packed bed reactor. Among the parameters that influence the AP in a fluidized bed reactor are the different types of two-phase flow, smooth fluidization, slugging or channeling, the particle size distribution, and the... 

Figure 8.20 Transient particle size in an agitated vessel reactor Jones etal., 1992a)...

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