MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON UNSTEADY-STATE SO2 CONVERTERS

This paper deals with experimentation of the unsteady-state fixed-bed reactor with flow reversal for SO2 conversion. A laboratory reactor wi th compensatory heating coils has been set up, resulting in 96-99% con version for SO2 = 2.62-9.52 vol%, and u = 0.2 m/s. The results were fr om agreement with simulation of a really adiabatic unsteady-state reac tor, but agreed well with modelling by considering the radial heat tra nsfer. A three-stage pilot-scale converter has also been run with the M-typed temperature profile produced by heat loss from the chamber bet ween stages. Good agreement was achieved with modelling by taking into account this feature. The results show that, while the adiabatic requ irement is difficult to fulfill in the well-accepted experimental reac tors, simulation and modelling are powerful means for compensation.