Conceptual analysis to evaluate suitability of compact heat exchanger reactors for rapid and complex chemical reactions

• Published in: Chemical engineering and processing 2019-06, Vol.140, p.142-156
• Main Authors: Shelat, Maulik R., Liang, Chao, Tuo, Hanfei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Compact heat exchanger reactors; Complex chemical reactions; Process intensification
• ISSN: 0255-2701; 1873-3204
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2019.05.003

[Display omitted] •Identified possible design options of CHERs.•Performed mathematical modeling of CHERs incorporating mixing effect for complex reaction schemes.•Exhibited capabilities of CHERs to carry out rapid and highly exo- or endo-thermic reactions.•Demonstrated that a single flexible CHER can be used to carry out multiple reaction schemes with minor modifications. Objective of this paper is to contribute towards overcoming the barriers limiting industry scale applications of the Compact Heat Exchanger Reactor (CHER). This objective could be achieved by exhibiting capabilities of the CHERs to carry out rapid and highly exo- or endo-thermic chemical reactions. Also, classification of CHERs and preparation of guidelines for the selection of CHERs for the given application (without the needs of extensive experimentation requirements) could prove to be helpful. In order to achieve these, several possible design options of CHERs have been identified and mathematical modelling of these design options has been carried out. The main purpose of the modelling work is to understand the impact of different designs on the rate and product distribution of single liquid phase multiple chemical reactions. The results achieved exhibit capabilities of the CHER to carry out rapid and highly exo- or endo-thermic multiple chemical reactions. The results also serve as a tool to check suitability of different designs of the CHER to carry out more than one type of reaction schemes. The development and results of the mathematical modelling for the CHER are discussed in this paper. The conclusions suggest that a single flexible CHER can be used to carry out multiple reaction schemes with minor modifications.