(409e) Cross Flow Reactor Design for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Analysis of Dynamic Behavior

Due to its strong exothermicity and strong reactant inhibition, the FTS is a great candidate for employing a cross-flow reactor, in which the reactants are distributed along the reactor. The desired temperature, which is 480-500 K on a Co catalyst, aimed to achieve reasonable conversion with reasonable selectivity, is achieved by cooling, either by using a diluent by inert or by using a heat exchanger. The main features of the CFR for generic kinetics like 1^st order exothermic reaction, were analyzed and published by our group. Here we apply this design for FTS on a Co catalyst using a published kinetics based on a L-H mechanism coupled with an Anderson-Schultz-Flory kinetic model for high hydrocarbons to show the advantages gained - better activity and selectivity - since most of the reactor is operating at fixed conditions, unlike the PBR. The analysis follows several steps: (i) analysis of bistability of homogeneous states; (ii) analysis of the steady state spatial solution and plot of the domain of attraction of the active state; (iii) analysis of the full 1-D dynamic model, showing travelling-fronts or travelling–pulses, that may exit the system, as well as stationary-pulse solutions. In conclusion we note that the CFR offers many advantages at the expense of a more complex reactor structure.