5 replies to this topic

[tummalap.chowdary]

Dear chemical engineers,

why Liquid utilities entered from bottom of a reactor instead of top of reactor,

what is technical reason behind it,

if liquid utility entered from top of reactor what's the difference,

In both cases liquid patch is same,available Heat transfer area is same,

Waiting for your valuable reply,

Regards,
T.P.Chowdary

Edited by tummalap.chowdary, 07 August 2012 - 05:54 AM.

[Art Montemayor]

tummalap:

What KIND and configuration of reactor are you writing about? This makes a big difference. What reactants and products are you referring to?

Since we haven't learned yet how to read your mind, could you facilitate us with all the basic data and background information related to your query?

[S.R.Shah]

To completed fill jacket with liquid and ensure complete air venting ;liquid utility are entered from bottom of jacket.

If Liquid utility is to be entered from the top; air pocket remains.

Inverted loop at the bottom of the jacket upto top nozzle with appropriate air venting arrangement can solve the problem of air pocket.

[tummalap.chowdary]

thanks for replying,

Reactor jacket is outside of the reactor, type of reactor is limpet coil, and for any reactants or product same configuration,

S.R.shah may be correct, is there any other reasons why liquid utilities are entering from bottom of reactor,


Regards,
T.P.Chowdary

[Art Montemayor]

tummalap:

A limpet coil does not define the type of reactor. I have to assume you are trying to describe a batch, jacketed kettle reactor with a limpet (half-pipe) external jacket. If so, then what S.R. Shah states is true – if the so-called “Liquid utilities” are cooling water or oil introduced into a reactor’s external jacket.

In fact this should be true in all cases involving cooling water introduced into a cooling device – especially shell and tube heat exchangers. If this is not done, the operator will have difficulty establishing continuous, steady flow through the device due to internal air pockets that exist at the moment of startup. These are difficult to get rid of and result in inefficient heat transfer.

[tummalap.chowdary]

Thanks for response,

the type of reactor is Batch Reactor,

utilities entering from bottom of reactor is only to remove air pockets,

is there any other variations such as if liquid utility enters from top, it comes under gravity + its own pressure,

if utility entered from bottom there is some back pressure on utility, due to returning line utility therefore utility pressure = pump pressure - back pressure ,

in above two cases where Reynolds number is high, since it affects the heat transfer,

Thanks and regards,
T.P.chowdary.

Edited by tummalap.chowdary, 09 August 2012 - 01:19 AM.