Effect of packing on the catalytic isomerization of cyclopropane in fixed and fluidized beds

An experimental study with fixed and fluidized beds in the isomerization of cyclopropane on a silica alumina catalyst is reported for a temperature range of 150° to 250°C. and of 5 to 150 W/F (g‐catalyst, hr./g.‐mole). The effects of various cylindrical screen packing, 0.2‐, 0.4‐, and 1.0‐in. diameter, and 1.0‐in. diameter pall ring, on final conversion were determined. Reactor scale effects were also considered with reactors of 0.9‐, 1.8‐, and 6.0‐in. diameter and bed heights 1.8 to 11.0 in. Overall conversions were higher in a fluidized bed with packing than in a normal fluidized bed but were less than in a fixed bed, though approaching it in some cases. Rate data from the fixed bed closely followed first‐order kinetics. When the same catalyst was tested in a normal fluidized bed, the rate was dependent on linear gas velocity and catalyst bed height. With packing present in the fluidized bed, this dependency was much less, but packing size and shape had some effect. Several previously proposed reactor models were considered for correlating the data.