Three phase slurry reactors

Abstract

This article reviews the major developments in the engineering and design of three-phase slurry catalytic reactors. A general theoretical analysis for predicting the overall rate of reaction in a slurry reactor for various kinetics is presented, incorporating all the transport effects. Modeling of semi-batch reactors is discussed and design procedures are indicated. Some major correlations and methods for determining gas-liquid and liquid-solid mass transfer coefficients and effective diffusivity in liquid filled pores are reviewed. Slurry reactors are compared with other three-phase reactors, such as trickle bed or packed bed reactors, and relative merits are pointed out.