Model comparison and sensitivity analysis for a fixed bed reactor with two catalytic zones

Abstract

In this work, comparisons between the behaviour predicted by different types of mathematical models are presented. The system studied was the partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde, which occurs in a fixed bed reactor with two distinct zones: at the entrance the catalyst is diluted with inert, followed by a region with pure catalyst. This type of distribution of the catalyst activity leads to different temperature and concentration profiles, when compared with those obtained by a uniform activity bed. Parametric sensitivity is examined for all the dimensionless parameters associated to the different mathematical models of the reactor. The parametric sensitivity analysis shows that the system is particularly sensitive to the wall temperature and almost insensitive to the side reaction and mass transfer parameters.