Pressure Drop in Reactors

Fi FA0 (Θi + ν i X ) P
Ci = = for isothermal reactors
v v0 (1 + ε 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 + ε X ) P0
dX kC/ A0 (1 − X ) P 1 k (1 − X ) P
= =
dW (1 + ε X ) P0 C/ A0 v0 v0 (1 + ε 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 − φ ⎞ ⎡150(1 − φ ) µ ⎤
=− ⎢ + ⎥
ρ D p ⎜⎝ φ 3 ⎟⎠ ⎣⎢
1.75G
dz Dp ⎦⎥

φ − Porosity
(1 − φ ) − Solid volume/total bed volume
ρ − Gas density
Dp − Particle diameter
µ − Viscosity of the fluid
z − Length along the reactor
u − Superficial velocity (volumetric flow/cross sectional area)
g
G = ρ ⋅ 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
ρ 0 v0 = ρ v
P0 ⎛ T ⎞ FT
v = v0 ⎜ ⎟ Ideal gas law
P ⎝ T0 ⎠ FT 0
ρ 0 v0 P ⎛ T0 ⎞ FT 0
ρ= = ρ0 ⎜ ⎟
v P0 ⎝ T ⎠ FT
dP G ⎛ 1 − φ ⎞ ⎡150(1 − φ ) µ ⎤
=− ⎜ 3 ⎟⎢ + 1.75G ⎥
dz ρ Dp ⎝ φ ⎠ ⎢⎣ Dp ⎥⎦
Substitute for ρ
dP P ⎛ T ⎞⎛ F ⎞
= −β0 0 ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ T ⎟
dz P ⎝ T0 ⎠ ⎝ FT 0 ⎠
Where,
G ⎛ 1 − φ ⎞ ⎡150(1 − φ ) µ ⎤
β0 = ⎜ 3 ⎟⎢ + 1.75G ⎥
ρ 0 D p ⎝ φ ⎠ ⎣⎢ Dp ⎦⎥
Let W = (1 − φ ) AC z × ρ c
Bulk Density: ρ b = (1 − φ ) ρ c
dP 1 P0 ⎛ T ⎞ ⎛ FT ⎞
= −β0 ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
dW (1 − φ ) AC ρ c P ⎝ T0 ⎠ ⎝ FT 0 ⎠

2β0
α≡
(1 − φ ) AC ρ c P0
dP α P0 ⎛ T ⎞ ⎛ FT ⎞
=− ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
dW 2 ⎛ P ⎞ ⎝ T0 ⎠ ⎝ FT 0 ⎠
⎜ P⎟
⎝ 0⎠
This equation must be used for multiple reactions.
If, y = P
P0
dP α⎛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 ∂ = ε
FT 0
FT
= 1+ ε X
FT 0
dP α⎛T ⎞P
= − ⎜ ⎟ 0 (1 + ε X )
dW 2 ⎝ T0 ⎠ y
For isothermal reactors,
dP α P0
=− (1 + ε X ) = f 2 ( P, X )
dW 2 y
This is the second ODE solved for single reaction applications.

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

dP −α P0
=
dW 2( P )
P0
d(P )
2P P0
= −α
P0 dW
2
d ⎛⎜ P ⎞⎟
⎝ P0 ⎠ = −α
dW
2
⎛ P ⎞ = 1 − αW
⎜ P⎟
⎝ 0⎠
P 2β 0
= (1 − αW ) where, α =
1/ 2

P0 Ac (1 − ϕ ) ρ c P0
1/ 2
P ⎛ 2β 0 z ⎞
= ⎜1 − ⎟
P0 ⎝ P0 ⎠

Since, W = (1 − ϕ ) Ac z ρ c.