Three-phase mass transfer: theoretical development of the overall effectiveness factor for cylindrical geometries

Abstract

This work presents a theoretical analysis for predicting the overall effectiveness factor (η) for cylindrical geometries in a three-phase catalytic reaction system. Implicit expressions for η, taking into account all the transport effects, gas–liquid mass transfer, liquid-solid mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion as well the chemical reaction were obtained. Various types of kinetics were considered; namely, Langmuir–Hinshelwood, power-law and zeroth order. The obtained results are presented as a useful tool to be used in field of reactors design and laboratory kinetics data interpretation.