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Using heat pipe to make isotherm condition in catalytic converters of sulfuric acid plants

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Abstract

In this study, for the first time, it is tried to construct a pilot reactor, for surveying the possibility of creating isothermal condition in the catalytic convertors where SO2 is converted to SO3 in the sulfuric acid plants by heat pipe. The thermodynamic and thermo-kinetic conditions were considered the same as the sulfuric acid plants converters. Also, influence of SO2 gas flow rate on isothermal condition, has been studied. A thermo-siphon type heat pipe contains the sulfur + 5% iodine as working fluid, was used for disposing the heat of reaction from catalytic bed. Our results show that due to very high energy-efficiency, isothermal and passive heat transfer mechanism of heat pipe, it is possible to reach more than 95% conversion in one isothermal catalytic bed. As the results, heat pipe can be used as a certain piece of equipment to create isothermal condition in catalytic convertors of sulphuric acid plants. With this work a major evaluation in design of sulphuric acid plants can be taken place.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Almas Shimi Mofid Company’s Manager, Mr. Mosavi for permitting to test the Heat pipe in their sulfuric acid factory. The financial support provided by the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tarbiat Modares University is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    M. Yousefi, H. Pahlavanzadeh & S. M. Sadrameli

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  1. M. Yousefi
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  2. H. Pahlavanzadeh
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  3. S. M. Sadrameli
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Correspondence to H. Pahlavanzadeh.

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Yousefi, M., Pahlavanzadeh, H. & Sadrameli, S.M. Using heat pipe to make isotherm condition in catalytic converters of sulfuric acid plants. Heat Mass Transfer 53, 2693–2700 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2002-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2002-y

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