Modelagem e simulação da operação de um reator de leito fixo catalitico envolto em membrana permseletiva / Modeling and simulation of fixed bed reactor wrapped with permselective membranes

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Styrene is an important monomer in the manufacture of thermoplastic and synthetic rubbers. Most of the production is based on the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. The increase of the styrene productivity can be reached using permselectives membranes for hydrogen removal, suppressing the reversible and secondary reactions. This work presents the simulation of dehydrogenation process in tubular fixed bed reactor wrapped with permselective composite membrane. The mathematical modeling was developed considering the different mechanisms of mass transport that prevail in several membrane layers and in catalytic fixed bed. The removal of the permeated hydrogen was carried out establishing a gradient of chemical hydrogen potential through the membrane. Two forms of hydrogen removal were studied: the application of transmembrane pressure drop and the employment of inert sweep gas. A computational program was implemented to describe the profiles of temperature, pressure and concentration throughout all reactor, as . well as the ethylbenzene conversion, styrene selectivity and productivity. Comparing the simulation results obtained for conventional fixed bed reactor carried on standard industrial operation condition with application transmembrane pressure drop form, it shows an increase of 19.89 % in ethylbenzene conversion in the same styrene selectivity for, meaning an increase of 19.12% in styrene productivity. The same addition was obtained when the inert sweep gas was employed. Therefore, this last proceeding has been recommended as the better option, due to its lower operation cost. Through the system simulation at various operation conditions, using different reactor and membrane configurations, an increase of 40.98 % in the styrene productivity was reached comparing to conventional fixed bed process

ASSUNTO(S)

permselective membrane catalise heterogenea desidrogenação - simulação por computador separação de membrana mathematical modeling membrane reactor ethylbenzene dehydrogenation reatores quimicos palladium membranes

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