Analysis of catalyst wetting efficiency influence on performances of industrial TBR for hydro desulfurization and hydro de aromatization reactions

Abstract

Many industrial scale trickle bed reactors (TBR) operate at lower liquid superficial velocities (<0.5 cm/s) at which the catalyst particle are not completely wetted. This phenomenon of incomplete wetting has therefore received significant attention and numerous studies have addressed the influence of wetting on the overall rate, conversion/selectivity behavior, and heat effects in TBR. The incomplete wetting conditions correspond to stagnant liquid pockets due to lower liquid superficial velocity which could cause significant influence on reactor performances. In this paper, several models for wetting efficiency in TBR on industrial level are examined and influence on reaction rate and reactor performance is discussed.

Keywords

• hydro treating
• trickle bed reactors
• mathematical modelling
• catalyst wetting efficiency