A NEW ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR SOLID-GAS THERMOCHEMICAL REACTORS BASED ONTHERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE REACTIVE MEDIUM

In the following study, a basis has been developed for a pseudo-perman ent model, taking into account the average functioning characteristics of a solid-gas reactor during an interval of time. This model is of i nterest thanks to its analytical form and allows simple calculations t o be made concerning the dimensioning, and thereby helps in the decisi on-making process. The industrial development of thermochemical reacto rs requires the design and construction of demonstration machines and thus calls for dimensioning models. The already existing models are ba sed on dynamic simulation linked to the discontinuous and transient fu nctioning mode of such processes. Hence, these dynamic models require initially arbitrary choices, which are tested successively to achieve a correct sizing of the machine. The comparison of the analytical mode l developed in this study with a dynamic model, and with the results o f experiments, demonstrates the limits of the analytical model, as wel l as its reliability compared to the dynamic model. Elsewhere, the fle xibility linked to its analytical form shows the scale of the field of application. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science S.A.