A heterogeneous model for a fixed-bed
catalytic cracking reactor
of a heavy hydrocarbon stream based on a six-lump kinetic model has
been developed for analyzing the operating parameters and describing
the heat and mass transfer inside the reactor. Various definitions
for the heat-transfer coefficient were investigated using the model.
A comparison of the internal and external heat transfer of the reactor
showed that it is limited by the heat transfer between the reactor
wall and the fluid and plays a major role in the overall heat-transfer
coefficient. Also, the weight fraction and temperature profiles demonstrate
the same behavior for both solid and gas phases and the difference
between the profiles was related to film resistance between the two
phases. The results of the model at different temperatures, weight
hourly space velocities, and time-on-stream on the distribution of
catalytic products and conversion show good agreement with experimental
data. The results revealed that moderate conditions are optimal for
achieving a higher yield of gasoline, while the amount of undesirable
products increased under severe conditions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.