ABSTRACT
Three-phase reactors have found, and are finding, many applications in the production of petrochemicals, fine chemicals/pharmaceuticals and biochemicals. The analysis and design of this type of reactor are complicated due to the many physical processes which occur during operation. The partial hydrogenation of triglyceride oils is one important example of the use of three-phase reactors. This process is generally carried out in agitated slurry reactors because heat and mass transfer rates to and from slurried particulate catalysts are better than is the case with the equivalent fixed bed reactors. In this three-phase process, heavy petroleum fractions are cracked in the presence of hydrogen to give lower molecular weight hydrocarbons using supported noble metals such as platinum or palladium. There are two main categories of three-phase reactor, namely: fixed bed; and slurry reactors. In fixed bed reactors both the liquid and the gaseous phases flow over a stationary bed of catalyst particles.
