Multiple isolas in steady-state characteristics of fluidized bed catalytic reactors

Steady-state characteristics of a catalytic fluidized bed reactor are analyzed. A two-phase bubbling model is used for the description of a fluidized bed of a catalyst. Particular attention is focused on the theoretical and technological consequences of a newly observed steady-state behavior. Features of the model are presented in terms of steady-state structures, stability, solution multiplicity, and process efficiency. The possibility of an occurrence of multiple isolas of steady states is demonstrated for two simple kinetic models. Depending on the multiplicity region they belong to, multiple isolas are referred to as first type or second type isolas. (c) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2107-2116, 2017