The non-steady-state behaviour of a fixed bed reactor controlled by periodical direction reversal of reactant feed, applied in catalytic oxidation of industrial waste gases, containing organic compounds and carbon monoxide, has been investigated. The effects of the type of oxidized compound, its initial feed concentration, linear gas velocity, inerts-to-catalyst ratio and inerts thermophysical characteristics on the formation of reactor concentration and temperature fields were elucidated. It was shown that autothermal reactor behaviour is guaranteed by concentrations of the oxidized component which ensure an adiabatic temperature increase in excess of 20 "C. Deviations of either flow rate or initial concentration of the oxidized compound do not disturb the operational stability.
The sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide oxidation process in a fixed bed catalytic reactor is simulated in the case of cyclic change in the direction of the reaction mixture feed. It is shown that, for transient condition, the amount of catalyst in the reactor may be substantially reduced by its partial substitution with inert material of suitable form, dimensions and thermophysical properties, at the end of the layer. This makes the direct regenerative heat transfer process in these zones controllable, producing the same conversion and overall height of the layer. The results are significant for sulphuric acid production from gases poor in sulphur dioxide.
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