Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

CFD study on the radial distribution of coolants in the inlet section of rod-baffle-multi-tubular reactor

  • Transport Phenomena
  • Published:
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

CFD method was employed to investigate the radial distribution of coolants in the inlet section of rod baffle multi-tubular reactor. It was found that the reactor had poor distribution of coolants. In view of this problem, the detailed structures of incident channel, shape of baffle ring and distance between tube plate and the first rod baffle were discussed to study their effect on the radial distribution. The simulation results showed that incident channels 0#, 1#, 3#, 5# and 6# could improve radial distribution of coolants significantly, and the effect of incident channels 2# and 4# was relatively limited. The zigzag baffle ring was proved to prevent short pass near the shell wall. In addition, the radial distribution of coolants was also improved with distance between tube plate and the first rod baffle increasing from 85 mm to 242mm. The simulation results can provide guidance for designing multi-tubular reactor with rod baffles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. D. Wang, PetroChem. Equip. Technol., 33(1), 10 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. E. Eilers and W. M. Small, Chem. Eng. Prog., 69(7), 57 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  3. W. M. Small and R. K. Young, Oil Gas J., 75(37), 77 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Y. B. Lin, H. L. Yu and S. J. Yang, J. Shanghai Univ. Sci. Technol., 35(6), 596 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Q. W. Dong, Y. Q. Wang and M. S. Liu, Appl. Therm. Eng., 28(7), 651 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. B. I. Master, K. S. Chunangad and A. J. Boxma, Heat Transfer. Eng., 27(6), 4 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. L. Y. Kang, Sci. Technol. Commun., 21(6), 132 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. Huang, Chem. Equip. Technol., 17(1), 21 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. X. S. Wang, R. Z. Wang and J. Y. Wu, Appl. Therm. Eng., 25(11–12), 1753 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. L. W. Yan, J. X. Wu and Z. W. Wang, J. Shanghai Univ.: English Edition, 8(3), 337 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. L. W. Yan and Z. W. Wang, J. East Chin Univ. Sci. Technol., 30(8), 478 (2004).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. J. X. Wu, Q. W. Dong and S. M. Liu, Chem. Ind. Eng. Prog., 21(5), 306, 337 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Wu. The simulation of inner flow field in the multi-tubular fixed bed reactor [D], Tianjin University (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  14. C. Z. Guo and C. J. Hu, Technol. Eng., 43(1), 51 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. H. Zhang, L. Bai, Z. F. Geng and Y. H. Li, Chem. Ind. Eng., 29(1), 43 (2012).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. ANSYS Fluent Theory Guide (2013).

  17. Q. W. Dong and M. S. Liu, Chemical Industry Press, Beijing (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  18. C. C. Gentry, Chem. Eng. Prog., 86, 48 (1990).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. C. Zhu and Y. D. Xu, Henan Chem. Ind., 10, 27 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University R&D Center for Petrochemical Technology, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Cheng Liu, Lei Zhang, Yekun Xu & Yonghui Li

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Cheng Liu, Lei Zhang, Yekun Xu & Yonghui Li

Authors
  1. Cheng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yekun Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yonghui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yonghui Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, C., Zhang, L., Xu, Y. et al. CFD study on the radial distribution of coolants in the inlet section of rod-baffle-multi-tubular reactor. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 651–663 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0133-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0133-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation