Pressure Drop in Reactors

Fi FA0 (i + i X ) P
Ci = = for isothermal reactors
v v0 (1 + X ) P0
For packed-bed reactors,
dX
FA0 = rA
dW
If we are considering the reaction, A B, which is first order
kC (1 X ) P
rA = kC A = A0
(1 + X ) P0
dX kC/ A0 (1 X ) P 1 k (1 X ) P
= =
dW (1 + X ) P0 C/ A0 v0 v0 (1 + X ) P0
dX
= f1 ( X , P)
dW
In this equation, conversion is a function of pressure. Hence, we need
an additional relationship between pressure and conversion.

The additional relationship is obtained through the Ergun Equation

dP G 1 150(1 )
= +
D p 3
1.75G
dz Dp

Porosity
(1 ) Solid volume/total bed volume
Gas density
Dp Particle diameter
Viscosity of the fluid
z Length along the reactor
u Superficial velocity (volumetric flow/cross sectional area)
g
G = u = Mass flux = units ( 2 )
cm s

dP
This equation can be reduced to = f 2 ( X , P)
dW
For any flow reactor, m0 = m
0 v0 = v
P0 T FT
v = v0 Ideal gas law
P T0 FT 0
0 v0 P T0 FT 0
= = 0
v P0 T FT
dP G 1 150(1 )
= 3 + 1.75G
dz Dp Dp
Substitute for
dP P T F
= 0 0 T
dz P T0 FT 0
Where,
G 1 150(1 )
0 = 3 + 1.75G
0 D p Dp
Let W = (1 ) AC z c
Bulk Density: b = (1 ) c
dP 1 P0 T FT
= 0
dW (1 ) AC c P T0 FT 0

20

(1 ) AC c P0
dP P0 T FT
=
dW 2 P T0 FT 0
P
0
This equation must be used for multiple reactions.
If, y = P
P0
dP T P F
= 0 T
dW 2 T0 y FT 0
FA0
FT = FT 0 + FA0 i X = FT 0 (1 + i i X )
FT 0

FA0
i = y A 0 =
FT 0
FT
= 1+ X
FT 0
dP T P
= 0 (1 + X )
dW 2 T0 y
For isothermal reactors,
dP P0
= (1 + X ) = f 2 ( P, X )
dW 2 y
This is the second ODE solved for single reaction applications.

Analytical solutions are possible when = 0 or when X 1. When this is true,

dP P0
=
dW 2( P )
P0
d(P )
2P P0
=
P0 dW
2
d P
P0 =
dW
2
P = 1 W
P
0
P 2 0
= (1 W ) where, =
1/ 2

P0 Ac (1 ) c P0
1/ 2
P 2 0 z
= 1
P0 P0

Since, W = (1 ) Ac z c.