EVALUATION OF STABILITY OF A CATALYTIC FIXED-BED REACTOR FROM A STEADY-STATE MODEL

The problem of stability of a catalytic fixed-bed reactor (CFBR) is th eoretically investigated from a steady-state model. A treatment of the equations, with due consideration to the rate of change of the reacti on with concentration and temperature, partial pressure of the reactan t in the feed, the particle heat and mass transfer coefficients, and t he coolant heat transfer coefficient on stability are studied for adia batic and nonadiabatic reactors. An uniqueness parameter and the criti cal distance from the inlet are defined to determine the stability of the reactor.