Phenomenological model for the prediction of the performance of a slurry bubble column reactor for green diesel production

Abstract

The performance of vegetable oil hydrotreating to produce green diesel in a slurry bubble column reactor was predicted in this study using a phenomenological model. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model of the reactor of 2.68 m in diameter and 7.14 m in height was used. The model consists of species mass transfer equations, an energy transfer equation and a pressure drop equation. Fluid mixing in the reactor was explained by dispersion coefficients. Catalyst distribution along the reactor was also considered. The chemical kinetics developed by Attanatho was used in the model. The effects of the gas and liquid superficial velocities on the triglyceride conversion as well as the green diesel yield and purity were predicted and evaluated. The effect of the superficial gas velocity on the reactor performance is insignificant since the range of superficial velocities in this simulation is in homogeneous flow area. The effect of the liquid superficial velocity is quite significant.