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Heterogeneous Catalysis
Some Applications
Reactants (gas)+catalyst (solid): nanofibrous carbon
(NFC), exhaust treatment, ammonia synthesis, Sulfuric
acid synthesis, etc.;
Reactants (liquid)+catalyst (solid): margarine
production.
Model description
This example investigates the thermal
decomposition of methane over a solid Ni-Al2O3
catalyst. Hydrogen gas and solid carbon are
formed as products. Carbon deposits affect the
catalyst activity as well as the porosity and fluid
flow through the reactor.
Operating
conditions
Reaction: atmospheric pressure, temperate between 490
590 oC
Modeling
Processes modeled by COMSOL
Carbon decomposition chemical reaction;
Catalyst deactivation;
Variable porosity and permeability distribution in a
porous media;
Mass transport of reactants along a reactor;
Heat transfer along a reactor;
Momentum transfer along a reactor.
Modeling Interfaces
Reaction Engineering
For kinetics investigation
Domain ODE
For calculating varying porosity
Concentration transients of
methane, hydrogen and
deposited carbon as methane
decomposes over a Ni/Al2O3
catalyst
Result
Comparison of
concentration transients
under two conditions of
catalyst:
1) deactivation (unlocked)
2) constant activity 1
(locked)
Results
Porosity distribution