THE MONOLITH FROTH REACTOR - RESIDENCE TIME MODELING AND ANALYSIS

A mathematical model describing the residence time for a liquid compon ent in a gas-liquid-solid monolith reactor has been developed. When tr avelling in a slug flow pattern, the liquid exhibits alternating regio ns of upflow in well mixed liquid slugs and downflow along the walls o f the monolith channel. The model was developed for flow in a single s quare capillary and indicates a mixing pattern that resembles well-mix ed behaviour. Theoretical calculations are compared with experimental results. The model can be extended to the monolith froth reactor by a statistical analysis of flow within the channels of the monolith. Beca use the monolith reactor represents a distribution of flow patterns, i t exhibits greater axial mixing and higher average residence times tha n would be expected based on the single channel analysis.