Evaluating the effectiveness factor from a 1D approximation fitted at high Thiele modulus: Spanning commercial pellet shapes with linear kinetics

Abstract

In the present contribution a one-dimensional model (1D model) is employed to account for the effect of pellet shape in the solution of diffusion-catalytic reaction problems. The 1D model free parameter (σ) is fitted so as to match the second term of the series for the effective reaction rate at fast kinetic conditions. The performance of the model was evaluated for a large collection of pellets available commercially, covering almost all the main shapes offered by catalyst manufacturers. For isothermal linear kinetics the effectiveness factors calculated by the 1D model differ at most by 3% from those of the actual 3D pellets. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.