Hello members,
I have a query. I need to size a hydrocracker for economic estimations.
The hydrocracker receives melted plastic stream = 10,000 kg/hr
Catalyst = 714 kg/h
Hydrogen = inlet = 1228 kg/h, outlet = 600 kg/hr, actual consumed = 628 kg/hr [ Note, I am giving a stochiometric excess of H2]
Other conditions: T = 280 C, P = 30 bar, residence time = 16 hr
My approach to size the reactor:
Vol of reactor = Volumetric flow x residence time
Volumetric flow of outlet stream = (mass of plastic/density + mass of catalyst/density + mass of hydrogen/density) {eq.1}
At this pressure, hydrogen density is 1.5 kg/m3
Eq. 1 becomes = (10000/925 + 714/873 + 600/1.5184) = 425 m3
So, the overall volumetric flow rate = 425 m3
For 16 hr residence time = 402 x 16 = 6445 m3/hr
If I select a reactor that has a length = 9.5 m and height = 47.5 m, the volume of such a reactor would be 3365 m3
Therefore, the number of reactor I need = 6445/3365 = 2.
My question is: Is my approach correct? Should I include Hydrogen is eq. 1 or not? or should I only take liquid and solid volumes while calculating size of reactor?
I am calculating the cost from Aspen Economic analyzer.
This will be a huge help for me.
Thanks,
Geetanjalli
Edited by Geetanjali, 27 September 2022 - 04:12 PM.