Structured Catalytic Bubble Column Reactors http://ct-cr4.chem.uva.

nl/structuredbc/

Structured Catalytic Bubble Column Reactors Research at University of Amsterdam

Prof. R. Krishna, Dr. J. Ellenberger, Dr. M.I. Urseanu

Pictures from the laboratory:

One packing unit Column in operation (close-up)

Structured packings in the 0.1 m column

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The 0.24 m and 0.10 m columns

The 0.1 m structured packed column The 0.24 m structured packed column

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Structured Catalytic Bubble Column Reactors http://ct-cr4.chem.uva.nl/structuredbc/

Bubble column section of the 0.24 m diameter column

The 0.24 m diameter column (top section: bubble column / bottom section:
structured packed bubble column)

Theoretical background:
Structured catalytic bubble columns are new, very promising types of multiphase reactors. Their configuration lies basically between slurry reactors and trickle bed reactors. The solid phase, consisting of catalyst particles, is enclosed in fixed wire
gauze wraps, which are mounted along the height of the column. The gas phase is dispersed into the liquid phase and it flows in the empty passages between adjacent envelopes. The liquid phase may be operated in a batch manner or it may also
circulate in co-current or counter-current manner to the gas flow.

The main advantages of this reactor type with respect with the conventional slurry bubble column are:

1. no problems for separating catalyst from the liquid;

2. improved conversion and selectivity due to staging of the liquid phase;

3. no scale up problems because the hydrodynamics is dictated by the size of the open channels of the catalytic structure.

The main advantages over trickle beds are:

1. lower pressure-drop even with 1 mm size particles;

2. excellent radial dispersion

3. possibility of counter-current operation without flooding.

This type of reactor can be used in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of heavy paraffins from syngas (CO+H2). This alternative concept is schematically represented in Fig.1.

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Structured Catalytic Bubble Column Reactors http://ct-cr4.chem.uva.nl/structuredbc/

Fig. 1. Schematic drawing of a structured packing bubble column reactor.

Packing configuration

In our experimental work we used the KATAPAK - S catalyst support structure from Sulzer Chemtech. The packing consists of superimposed corrugated wire gauze envelopes with a specific orientation of the channels. The packing is composed of
two main parts: open channels and packed channels. The catalyst place is inside the wire "sandwiches". In our case, the packed channels are filled with 1mm glass inert spheres. The gas flows preferentially in the open channels, between the wire
gauze envelopes. The liquid flows down the structures both within the packed channels and in the open channels. The corrugated wire structures, with the 90 cross angle, ensure that the liquid flowing inside the envelopes (sandwiches) is renewed
continuously. The flow is forced to change direction frequently, ensuring very good radial distribution.

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Fig. 2. Internal configuration of one packing unit.

Experimental details

The experiments have been performed in two columns, with the inside diameters: 0.1 and 0.24 m. Both columns are 4 m height and they are made of two polyacrylate sections of 2 m each. The columns are equipped with perforated plates gas
distributors. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the experimental set up.

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Fig. 3. The experimental set up for the 0.1 m column.

The column was divided into two parts: the bottom section contained the structured packing, we called it therefore "the structured bubble column" and the upper part was kept empty, as an ordinary "bubble column". Table 1 gives the hardware
details for the two columns used.

Table 1

Characteristic parameters for the structured bubble columns used

DT = 0.1 m DT = 0.24 m

Number of packing sections used in the column, N/ [-] 9 6

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Length of one packed element / [m] 0.2 0.288

Diameter of one packed element / [m] 0.0935 0.24

Hydraulic diameter of the open channels, dh / [m] 0.007 0.020

Inclination of corrugated sheets from vertical 45o 45o

Solids hold up in the structured packed section, epsS / [-] 0.205 0.198

Void fraction within "packed channels" / [-] 0.454 0.505

Volume fraction of "packed channels" in the reactor, epsPC / [-] 0.375 0.400

Specific surface for the gas flow (assuming the space between the glass spheres is completely filled with liquid), As / [m-1] 354.4 122.3

Entrance length, He / [m] 0.07 0.15

Height of the structured packed section, Hp / [m] 1.8 1.68

Dispersion height, Hd / [m] 1.68 1.60

Height between the pressure taps in the bubble column section, dH / [m] 0.9 1.21

Distributor hole diameter, d0 / [m] 0.0005 0.0005

Number of distributor holes 253 1457

Last update: 22.11.2000

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