4/30/2019 AspenTech: Knowledge Base

How can I model a pyrolysis reaction in Aspen Plus?

Products: Aspen Plus
Last Updated: 02-Apr-2018
Versions: V10.0, V8.4, V8.6, V8.8, V9.0
Article ID: 000045592
Primary Subject: 

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Problem Statement

How can I model a pyrolysis reaction in Aspen Plus?

Solution

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures in the

absence of oxygen (or any halogen). It involves the simultaneous change of chemical composition
and physical phase, and is irreversible. The word is coined from the Greek-derived elements pyro
" re" and lysis "separating" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis).

Aspen Plus offers different approaches to model for this type of reactions.

The simplest way to model pyrolysis is to use the balanced based reactors, RYield and RStoic, and specify the
product distribution (yield, extent of reaction or conversion) to perform a mass balance and calculate the flowrate of
each component in the product stream.

The following solutions contain examples of using a balanced based reactor to model pyrolysis:
RYield: Coal enthalpy calculation example (/articles/en_US/Example_Library/144174-2)
RYield: Rate-based coal gasifier examples (/articles/en_US/Example_Library/129523-2)
RStoic: How RSTOIC, the stoichiometric reactor, calculates the heat of reaction
(/articles/en_US/Example_Library/137477-2) 

If you know the pyrolysis kinetics, you can use Rate Based reactors, as the RCSTR and RPlug, to predict the rate of
disappearance of reactant and the formation of product species.

Alternatively, you can use the SPYRO program (separate software licensed by Technip) through the User3 block
model. This model is used to simulate the pyrolysis kinetics reactions and product yields in the radiant coil of an
ethylene furnace.
Is it possible to use SPYRO pyrolysis kinetics with Aspen Plus? (/articles/en_US/Tech_Tips/121212-2)

 
Keywords

Pyrolysis, reaction, SPYRO.

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