Multicomponent mass transport in porous solids and estimation of transportparameters

In order to design reactors for heterogeneous catalytic reactions, the aspe ct of intraparticle moss transport resistances is of considerable relevance . An improved technique fur following the pressure change in the Wicke-Kall enbach cell was developed with the ai m of characterizing the structure of porous solids for gas transport. The experimental set-up was proposed on th e basis of sensitivity analysis of the initial-boundary-value problem descr ibing multicomponent mass transport inside porous catalyst pellets. The sys tem parameter with the greatest influence on the sensitivity functions was the total pressure in the upper chamber of the Wicke-Kallenbach cell. A pro per adjustment of experimental conditions admitted of reliable parameter es timation of the transport parameters of two porous catalysts with very diff erent properties. The ability of the mean transport-pore model. the dusty-g as model, and the binary friction model to describe experimental responses was discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.