ABSTRACT
Plug flow, laminar flow, axial dispersion, and complete backmixing models are the dominant ones for conventional reactor technology. Considerable deviations from these flow models are treated by detailed flow modeling, computational fluid dynamics. Mass transfer resistance is the crucial factor in the scaleup of processes. Steady-state operation, however, is sometimes less economical, particularly in cases where considerable energy effects are encountered. For example, classical sulfur dioxide oxidation processes involve a large reactor–heat exchanger system to force conversion of the reactant to an acceptable level. Unconventional, often sophisticated reactor technologies, such as the use of various structural catalysts or various loop configurations, can essentially be treated and modeled with classical concepts. A product-oriented approach is the slogan of the twenty-first century. Reaction engineering of the future is to focus more on fine and specialty chemicals, bioengineering applications, and treatment of natural products, such as pulp and paper making, health-promoting compounds, and pharmaceuticals.
