ANNULAR-FLOW IN A CATALYTIC MONOLITH REACTOR - THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CENTERLINE PROBE TEMPERATURES

The influence on the flow and temperature distribution of a coaxial th ermocouple probe inserted in a single channel catalytic monolith react or is investigated. Both the case of an insulated reactor and a reacto r installed in a furnace are studied. It is shown that for a moderate to high wall temperature (700-1000 K) the influence of radiation on th e measured temperature is significant. For laminar flow in a relativel y large diameter reactor, significant radial temperature gradients can develop. The reaction in such a case has a strong tendency to become mass transfer controlled.