PERFORMANCE OF AN ANNULAR CATALYTIC THREE-PHASE REACTOR FOR A SECOND ORDER REACTION

A novel annular catalytic three-phase reactor is theoretically investigated for a second order hydrogenation reaction. The results indicate that the ratio of the gaseous reactant to the liquid reactant within the reaction zone of the annular reactor can be adjusted by changing the reactor dimensions and the concentration of the gaseous reactant in the feed. As a consequence, the annular reactor may have a significant advantage over the trickle-bed reactor with respect to the selectivities that may be achieved in the reactor.