Multiphase reactors - revisited

Multiphase reactors are found in diverse applications such as in manufactur e of petroleum-based fuels and products, in production of commodity and spe cialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticides, in refining o f ores, in production of polymers and other materials, and in pollution aba tement. In all such applications, the knowledge of fluid dynamic and transp ort parameters is necessary for development of appropriate reactor models a nd scale-up rules. The state of the art of our understanding of the phenome na occurring in three-phase reactors such as packed beds with two-phase how , slurry bubble columns and ebullated beds is summarized in this review. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.