TY - JOUR
T1 - Flow behavior of polypropylene reactor powder in horizontal stirred bed reactors characterized by X-ray imaging
AU - van der Sande, P. Christian
AU - de Vries, Claris
AU - Wagner, Evert C.
AU - Vögtlander, Amarenske C.
AU - Meesters, Gabrie M.H.
AU - van Ommen, J. Ruud
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Horizontal stirred bed reactors (HSBRs) are widely used in the commercial production of polypropylene (PP). Despite their commercial significance, a comprehensive understanding of the flow behavior in HSBRs remains elusive, primarily due to the lack of detailed experimental data. This study investigates the influence of operating parameters on the particle flow behavior of two types of PP reactor powder in a laboratory-scale HSBR using X-ray imaging. Our results indicate that the overall flow behavior and phase holdup in the HSBR are dominated by agitation. Moreover, gas injection through the inlet points at the bottom of the HSBR results in spouting behavior, which can lead to reduced gas–solid contacting and, in extreme cases, complete bypass. Finally, the presence of liquid (in this study, isopropyl alcohol) adversely affects the flow behavior of the PP reactor powder due to liquid bridging at the contact points of particles. Powders that comprise particles with relatively small sizes and dense surface morphology are particularly prone to reduced flow behavior when exposed to liquid.
AB - Horizontal stirred bed reactors (HSBRs) are widely used in the commercial production of polypropylene (PP). Despite their commercial significance, a comprehensive understanding of the flow behavior in HSBRs remains elusive, primarily due to the lack of detailed experimental data. This study investigates the influence of operating parameters on the particle flow behavior of two types of PP reactor powder in a laboratory-scale HSBR using X-ray imaging. Our results indicate that the overall flow behavior and phase holdup in the HSBR are dominated by agitation. Moreover, gas injection through the inlet points at the bottom of the HSBR results in spouting behavior, which can lead to reduced gas–solid contacting and, in extreme cases, complete bypass. Finally, the presence of liquid (in this study, isopropyl alcohol) adversely affects the flow behavior of the PP reactor powder due to liquid bridging at the contact points of particles. Powders that comprise particles with relatively small sizes and dense surface morphology are particularly prone to reduced flow behavior when exposed to liquid.
KW - Horizontal stirred bed reactors
KW - Multiphase reactors
KW - Polypropylene
KW - Reactor optimization
KW - X-ray
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207955582&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2024.156891
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2024.156891
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85207955582
SN - 1385-8947
VL - 500
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
JF - Chemical Engineering Journal
M1 - 156891
ER -