Modelling and Simulation of Acrylonitrile Synthesis from Propylene Using Fluidized Bed Technology

Abstract

The synthesis of acrylonitrile by the ammoxidation of propylene was modelled and simulated in a fluidized bed reactor based upon the two phase theory of fluidization. The conversion as obtained from two other models (the bubbling bed model and the bubble assemblage model) was calculated for comparison. The impact of the variation of each of four system parameters upon reactor performance was explored. A preliminary optimization search was initiated and it was shown that the model predicts a 76.6% conversion for a particular combinatioin of the four system parameters which compares favorably with the typical 60-65% conversion reported for actual industrial applications.