Mathematical model and performance tests of an experimental heat-exchanger reactor with a sectional catalyst unit for benzene hydrogenation

A sectional catalyst unit for benzene hydrogenation is developed. The unit makes it possible to reduce the gas-dynamic resistance in the reactor and to enhance the removal of reaction heat. A macrokinetic model of the unit is developed. The numerical calculations using the model, as well as performance tests of an experimental reactor equipped with the module, showed that the capacity of a unit reactor volume can be one order of magnitude higher than that of the standard tubular element in a commercial reactor with a packed catalyst bed.