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Dynamic Modeling of Fixed‐Bed Fischer‐Tropsch Reactors with Phase Change Material Diluents
Author(s) -
Odunsi Ademola O.,
O'Donovan Tadhg S.,
Reay David A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201600196
Subject(s) - fischer–tropsch process , diluent , coolant , thermodynamics , continuous stirred tank reactor , chemistry , nuclear engineering , energy balance , materials science , catalysis , engineering , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , selectivity
A simplified transient model for fixed‐bed reactors was extended to account for the heat sink effect of the phase change material diluent in the Fischer‐Tropsch reactor energy balance. The resulting model was found to accurately approximate the more rigorous two‐dimensional model with significantly less computational requirements even at the hotspot, where the reactor enthalpy balance is most sensitive. As anticipated, the presence of the encapsulated phase change material in the reactor induced thermal inertia, thereby restricting the temperature ramp rate in the reactor to acceptably safe operational limits for the catalyst. Although there was a reduction in both the CH 4 and C 5+ productivity, the reduction in CH 4 production was up to four times that of the C 5+ at the same coolant temperature.