Scaling Chemical Processes

Chapter 6

Scaling Chemical Reactors

Abstract

In this chapter, we apply dimensional analysis to chemical processes. We use homogeneous batch reactions, plug flow reactions, and porous solid–catalyzed reactions as examples. We show how to derive the dimensionless parameters for these examples, then we show how to combine them to form the Group I, II, III, and IV Damkohler numbers, as well as the Reynolds number. These numbers are used during process upscaling.

Keywords

Process development; batch reactors; plug flow reactors; fixed-bed reactors; adiabatic processes; Damkohler numbers

Introduction

Those engineering disciplines concerned with fluid flow, such as aeronautical, civil, and mechanical, have used dimensional analysis to good effect for the past ...