The effect of flow maldistribution on conversion in a catalytic packed‐bed reactor. Part I. Analysis

Through the statement of the vectorial form of the Ergun equation, combined with a differential component balance, a formulation was developed describing the velocity fields and reactant concentration profiles in an isothermal packed‐bed reactor in which the gas flow is nonuniform. This flow maldistribution was caused by both the preferential flow near the wall, inherent in most systems, and by the deliberate arrangement of the solid packing in the bed. The numerical solution of the governing equations showed that a nonuniform flow field had a very strong effect in distorting the concentration isopleths, particularly at intermediate conversion levels.