Ae. Kronberg et al., WAVE MODEL FOR LONGITUDINAL DISPERSION - APPLICATION TO THE LAMINAR-FLOW TUBULAR REACTOR, AIChE journal, 42(11), 1996, pp. 3133-3145
The wave model for longitudinal dispersion, published elsewhere as an
alternative to the commonly used dispersed plug-flow model, is applied
to the classic case of the laminar-flow tubular reactor. The results
are compared in a wide range of situations to predictions by the dispe
rsed plug-flow model as well as to exact numerical calculations with t
he 2-D model of the reactor and to other available methods. lit many p
ractical cases, the solutions of the wave model agree closely with the
exact data. The wave model has a much wider region of validity than t
he dispersed plug-flow model, has a distinct physical background, and
is easier to use for reactor calculations. This provides additional su
pport to the theory developed elsewhere. The properties and the applic
ability of the wave model to situations with rapidly changing concentr
ation fields are discussed. Constraints to be satisfied are establishe
d to use the new theory with confidence for arbitrary initial and boun
dary conditions.