ABSTRACT
Reactor design is a crucial part of plant engineering in any chemical industry. The chemical reactor constitutes the core of the plant, and other parts of the system are designed so as to enable a maximum yield from the reactor. For example, the heat exchangers are designed to provide the ambient temperature for maximizing the rate of the reaction, the flow ducts are designed to ensure maximum conversion based on the reaction rate, separation devices operate at conditions that maximize selectivity, and the valve designs ensure that the pressure within the reactor is ideal for the reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. Hence the design of a chemical reactor is of atmost importance in ensuring optimum performance of the plant. At the same time, constraints exist in terms of practical limits, for example, when designing packed beds when a specific pressure may be ideal for the reaction, this may result in channeling effects; or the packing size may not be practical. Another typical example is the case when a higher temperature favors the reaction rate, whereas the decomposition temperature of the product may be the limiting factor. The distribution of temperature along the reactor is another aspect of concern in catalytic reactors.
