Chemical Reactor Design and Operation

Chemical Reactor Design and Operation K. R. Westerterp, W. P. M. van Swaaij and A. A. C. M. Beenackers Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratories, Twente University of Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands This is a comprehensive handbook on the design and operation of chemical reactors which are vital elements in every manufacturing process. The book offers an introduction to the modern literature and covers in depth the relevant theory of chemical reactors. The theory is illustrated by numerous worked examples typical to chemical reaction engineering practice in research, development, design and operation. The examples range from fine chemicals to large scale production and from water purification to metallurgical processes, commencing with simple homogenous model reactors and then moving to the complicated, multi-phase, heterogeneous reactors met with in reality. All the examples are based on the industrial experience of the authors. Much effort is dedicated to the behaviour of reactors in practice and to the capacity, yield and selectivity of the reactor. The book is thoroughly indexed and cross-referenced. This edition will be particularly useful to undergraduate and graduate students studying chemical reactors. Contents Fundamentals of chemical reactor calculations Model reactors: single reactions, isothermal single phase reactor calculations Model reactors: multiple reactions, isothermal single phase reactors Residence time distribution and mixing in continuous flow reactors Influence of micromixing on chemical reactions The role of the heat effect in model reactors Multi-phase reactors, single reactions Multi-phase reactors, multiple reactions Heat effects in multi-phase reactors The authors: The authors have accumulated a long experience both in fine chemicals and in the petrochemicals industry, in Europe as well as abroad. Currently they are jointly responsible for the research work in chemical reaction engineering and process development at Twente University. Several new reactor types and new processes have been developed at their institute and present research interests include gasification, fluidization and gas--liquid reactors, three-phase reactors, high-pressure technology in chemical reaction engineering, thermal behaviour of heterogeneous reactors and computer design and economic evaluation of reaction units and chemical plants.