Process Intensification in a Model Trickle-Bed Reactor

The industrial trickle-bed reactors are bulky because the liquid flow is controlled by the gravity. To explore the possible process intensification in trickle-bed reactors, we have measured the rates on a rotating string of particles on which the liquid flows under the influence of a centrifugal field. To quantify the intensification, we have determined rates on the same string of particles with flow due to gravity. A model for the reaction rate was proposed. The enhancement in the rate was in the range of 6−10 times as the centrifugal acceleration was varied from 350 to 700 g . Moreover, it is possible to use particles of smaller size and achieve a higher interfacial area. Preliminary estimates showed that a reduction in the volume of the reactors by a factor of 50 appears feasible with rotating packed beds.