Design of Heat Transfer for a Chemical Reactor Assignment

Design of Heat Transfer for a Chemical Reactor - Assignment Example The instrumentation part includes putting in place the correct system such as closed loop control system, sensors and pneumatic valves for control of flow rate and temperatures. Much appreciation goes out to all the persons responsible in several ways for the success of this research, mostly to those who have made me gain much more than what the scholastic aspects of the course could have accorded. Much gratitude also goes to my lecturer for the basic knowledge he has provided in class. Production of Acrylic acid starts with propylene being partially oxidized in a fluidized -bed reactor. Propylene is broken down to acrolein in the process of getting catalytic gas at an oxidation stage. This takes place in presence of oxygen gas. The fluidized-bed reactor includes a packed-bed with a stirred tank that creates continuous flow reactors. It must posses some good characteristics of both heat and mass transfers. Substrates moves upwards through the bed which is immobilized with enzyme at high velocity which moves the particles up leading to though mixing. The reactor is normally used in highly exothermic reactions because it clears local hot-spots simply because of the mass and heat characteristics the fluidized -bed reactor has. The substrates are normally catalytic material where chemical reactants are given support. After achieving some optimum speed the reactor gets into a stage where the force of the fluid in the solids becomes enough to make a balance between the fluid and the solid materials. The contents of the bed-reactor begin to expand and swirl about in a manner equivalent to a agitated tank or a boiling pot of water after passing this level. This is where the reactor becomes a fluidized bed (Coulson, Richardson & Sinnott,1993). Pressure and temperature conditions in the process changes regarding the mode of reaction going on. Putting the fluidized-bed reactor in the higher section with higher temperatures and pressure than other areas provides good results since it promotes the needed reaction. The vapor velocity influences the rate of circulation for the catalyst. The velocity for the catalyst in inversely