Chinese Journal of Catalysis

Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2011, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (3): 446-450.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(10)60180-5

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Development of a Novel Conversion Equation as a Function of Catalytic Reaction Conditions in Tubular Reactors

LI Qiaoling1, ZHANG Yuanhua1, CHEN Shiping1, FANG Weiping1,2,* and YANG Yiquan1,2,#   

  1. 1Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China; 2Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and National Engineering Laboratory for Green Chemical Production of Alcohols, Ethers and Esters, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
  • Received:2010-10-23 Revised:2010-12-22 Online:2011-03-04 Published:2014-08-01

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Abstract: A comprehensive conversion equation was developed to simulate the catalytic reaction conditions (include temperature, pressure, residence time, and reaction composition) in tubular reactors: . This conversion equation is based on the characteristics of the power-exponential function  as well as the “variable reaction order” and “virtual reactant” concepts. Its validity was verified by fitting experiment data from three different catalytic systems such as the dehydrogenation of diethyl benzene, the hydrogenation of ethylbenzene, and the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. The results show that the influences of reaction temperature, pressure, residence time, and reactant composition on the conversion of the reactant can be determined within a wide range of values. By comparison with the experimental data, the calculated conversions were all found to have a total average relative deviation of less than 2%. This suggests that the conversion equation is not limited to a specific catalyst system but could be suitable for various catalyst systems in tubular reactors.

Key words: conversion equation, reaction kinetics, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrodesulfurization, Arrhenius law