Heterogeneous reaction engineering

ChE-403 / 4 credits

Teacher: Luterbacher Jeremy

Language: English

Summary

The theoretical background and practical aspects of heterogeneous reactions including the basic knowledge of heterogeneous catalysis are introduced. The fundamentals are given to allow the design of multiphase chemical reactors.

Content

1. Introduction and review

  • Course goals
  • Review of kinetics, transition state theory and the steady state approximation in catalysis
  • Basic types of chemical reactors (Batchwise operated stirred tank reactors (STR), Continuously operated stirred tanks (CSTR, Tubular/Plug flow reactors)

2. Non-ideal flow in reactors

  • Residence time distribution (RTD) and mixing in continuous flow reactors.
  • Models for describing non-ideal reactors: the multiple cell model, the axial dispersion model.
  • Influence of RTD and mixing on reactor performance.
  • Basic concepts for the design of continuous flow reactors.

3. Heterogeneous fluid/solid catalysis

  • Definitions
  • Kinetics of elementary steps: adsorption, desorption, and surface reaction.
  • Kinetics of overall reactions.
  • Experimental reactors for studying kinetics, evaluations of kinetic parameters.

4. Influence of transport phenomena on rates of heterogeneous reactions

  • External transport effects.
  • Internal transport effects.
  • Combined internal and external transport phenomena.
  • Criteria for estimating the influence of transport processes on heterogeneous catalytic kinetics.

5. Fluid/fluid reactions

  • Importance and basic concepts.
  • Model reactors for studying mass transfer with chemical reactions in fluid/fluid systems.
  • Determination of mass transfer coefficients.

Keywords

 

Reactor design, non-ideal reactors, heterogeneous catalysis, residence time distribution, mixing, transport phenomena in heterogeneous fluid/solid and fluid/fluid reactions

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

Module "Chemical Engineering" in Bachelor cycle

  • CH-310  Dynamics and kinetics
  • ChE-330 Fluid mechanics and transport phenomena
  • ChE-340The engineering of chemical reactions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Develop kinetic models describing heterogeneous catalytic reactions
  • Assess / Evaluate kinetic parameters
  • Estimate the influence and importance of transport phenomena on selectivity and yield
  • Estimate the impact of non-ideal behavior of chemical reactors
  • Design heterogeneous catalytic reactors

Assessment methods

Final written examination (100%)

Resources

Bibliography

-   Fundamentals of Chemical Reaction Engineering, by M.E. Davis and R.J Davis, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2003. The book is available for free at the following website: http://authors.library.caltech.edu/25070/

-  Microstructured Devices for Chemical Prodessing, by M. Kashid, A. Renken, L. Kiwi-Minsker, Wiley-VCH, 2015. The book is available on-line at the EPFL library.

-  Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kinetics, by I. Chorkendorff, J.W. Niemantsverdriet, Wiley-VCH, 3rd ed, 2017. The book is available on-line at the EPFL library

-. Kinetics of Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions, by M. Boudart, G. Djega-Mariadessou, Princeton University Press, 1984

-  VDI Heat Atlas, VDI e.V., 2nd ed. 2010. The book is available on-line at the EPFL library.

 

Ressources en bibliothèque

Références suggérées par la bibliothèque

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    In the programs

    • Semester: Fall
    • Exam form: Written (winter session)
    • Subject examined: Heterogeneous reaction engineering
    • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Type: mandatory
    • Semester: Fall
    • Exam form: Written (winter session)
    • Subject examined: Heterogeneous reaction engineering
    • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Type: mandatory
    • Exam form: Written (winter session)
    • Subject examined: Heterogeneous reaction engineering
    • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Type: optional
    • Semester: Fall
    • Exam form: Written (winter session)
    • Subject examined: Heterogeneous reaction engineering
    • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
    • Type: optional

    Reference week

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