Behavior of a Two-Phase Gas–Liquid Flow at the Inlet into a Catalytic Reactor


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Abstract

The behavior of a two-phase flow inside the inlet pipeline of a catalytic reactor is investigated. In addition to the classical approach using familiar flow diagrams, means of computational fluid dynamics are used for three-dimensional modeling of the spatial distribution of phases in the pipeline during operation. Results show a nonuniform distribution of the liquid phase over the over the pipeline outlet cross section surface, plus a mass flow of the liquid phase that is not stable over time. The maximum peak flow rates exceed the average values by ~300%. Compared to data from flow diagrams, CFD modeling shows that a change in the gas flow in the investigated range does not alter the nature of a two-phase flow, but an increase in the gas flow reduces the irregularity of the distribution of the liquid phase over the pipeline outlet cross section. Data on the behavior of a flow are needed to design catalytic reactor structures that ensure the uniform distribution of a two-phase flow to the catalyst bed for, e.g., hydrotreating reactors in the oil refining industry.

About the authors

O. P. Klenov

Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: klen@catalysis.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk, 630090

A. S. Noskov

Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: noskov@catalysis.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk, 630090

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