Abstract:
The efficiency of a catalyst reactor is quite difficult to estimate a priori
because it depends on many factors including the microstructure of the random
packing of particles, the hydrodynamics of the flow through the fixed bed and
the intrinsic chemical properties of the catalyst material. The objective of
this work is directed towards further validating the following workflow: loading
procedure, microstructure of the pack, hydrodynamics and chemical reaction, and
using it to investigate new shapes of catalyst particle. This workflow is based
on home made high-fidelity numerical tools: GRAINS3D for granular dynamics of
convex particles and PeliGRIFF for reactive fluid/solid flows. The new
contribution relies on extending the modelling capabilities of GRAINS3D to
non-convex particles. A strategy based on decomposing a non-convex shape into a
set of convex ones appears to be the most obvious, though powerful, option.
However, other alternatives, if they exist, will be examined. The underlying
motivation stems from the will of industrial players to test new complicated
particle shapes like 3D three- or four-leaf clovers. In fact, these shapes offer
a better surface to volume ratio compared to traditional shapes and might
exhibit enhanced conversion rates in catalyst reactors. Once validated, our
workflow will be a useful tool to quantitatively qualify the design of a new
catalyst reactor and will give us the opportunity to assess how modifying one
entry parameter, like a vibrating procedure to densify the pack, will affect
characteristics like the pressure drop through the pack, and eventually the
overall efficiency of the catalyst reactor.
Keywords:
Granular Mechanics; Fluid Mechanics; Particulate Flows; Reactive Flows;
Numerical Simulation; Scientific Programming
Academic & IFPEN supervisor:
Dr. & IFPEN Scientific Advisor Anthony Wachs, Fluid Mechanics Department, IFPEN,
Lyon, France, email: anthony.wachs@ifpen.fr.
IFPEN co-supervisor:
Research Engineer Matthieu Rolland, Process Intensification Department, IFPEN,
Lyon, France.
Doctoral School:
ED CHIMIE, Lyon, http://www.edchimie-lyon.fr.
Collaboration:
Academic collaboration with Prof. Jean-Yves Delenne, IATE group, INRA,
Montpellier, France and CNRS Senior Researcher Farhang Radjai, head of the
Physics and Mechanics of Granular Materials group, LMGC, Montpellier, France.
IFPEN website job announcement:
http://www.ifp-school.com/default.asp?id=45&thesis=70&these=75
Location: IFP Energies nouvelles, Solaize, France.
Duration: 3 years
Starting date: October 1st, 2013.
Salary: around 2000€ net per month.
IFPEN offers a stimulating research environment, with access to powerful
computing facilities (both its owns and national supercomputers) as well as a
competitive salary and benefits. The position is open in the Fluid Mechanics
Department, and more specifically in the Computational Multiphase Flow Group
(www.peligriff.com) led by Dr. Anthony Wachs.
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