Reactor Configuration for Heterogeneous Solid-Catalyzed Reactions

5 REACTOR CONFIGURATION FOR HETEROGENEOUS SOLID-CATALYZED REACTIONS 

Heterogeneous reactions involving a solid supported catalyst form an important class of reactors and require special consideration. As discussed in the previous section, such reactors can be configured in different ways  

Of these, fixed-bed adiabatic reactors are the cheapest in terms of capital cost. Tubular reactors are more expensive than fixed-bed adiabatic reactors, with the highest capital costs associated with moving and fluidized beds. The choice of reactor configuration for reactions involving a solid supported catalyst is often dominated by the deactivation characteristics of the catalyst. 

If deactivation of the catalyst is very short, then moving-or fluidized-bed reactors are required so that the catalyst can be withdrawn continuously, regenerated and returned to 

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