Modelado de un Reactor Tubular Horizontal con Condensación, en Estado Estacionario

Aplicación a un proceso de producción de ácido nítrico.

Abstract

An alternative of modeling of a horizontal shell and tube reactor with completely gaseous feed was proposed.
During the cooling of the gaseous stream, the reactor was modeled as a PFR (Plug Flow Reactor) with countercurrent cooling service; verifying the decrease in temperature as regards the dew point of the mixture so it would allow to detect the section where condensation begins. When the liquid phase has been formed, the process stream advances as plug flow biphasic L-V in equilibrium with chemical reactions in both phases. Then, it was proposed as a sequence of multiple CSTRs (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors) in series in steady-state with cooling to model the two-phase-flow stage into condenser.
This model, applied to similar characteristics equipment involved in the nitric acid production process of a company in Argentina, has allowed the modeling validation proposed, through the values established by the technology provider for its comparison. The proposed model predicts the stream resulting from an operation with similar characteristics described successfully.