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The optimization of the catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide in a multi‐bed adiabatic reactor
Author(s) -
Chartrand G.,
Crowe C. M.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450470324
Subject(s) - adiabatic process , dilution , sulfur dioxide , catalysis , inlet , packed bed , chemistry , environmental science , materials science , thermodynamics , mechanics , process engineering , chromatography , engineering , inorganic chemistry , physics , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry
A multi‐bed adiabatic reactor for the catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide was optimized using maximum conversion as the criterion and with plant data from Canadian Industries Limited, Hamilton, Ontario. Different combinations of the following parameters were varied: number of beds, inlet temperature to each bed, bed depth and air dilution before each bed. The optimization techniques used and compared for efficiency were: dynamic programming, gradient search, Hooke and Jeeves' pattern search and the discrete maximum principle. The optimum conversions were found to be quite insensitive to considerable variation in feed temperature, air dilution and catalyst distribution. An improvement in the plant conversion of 0.25% was predicted.