Abstract：The flow and heat transfer in shell side of a multi-tubular fixed-bed reactor for propylene oxidation to acrolein was investigated by computational fluid dynamics software (CFD)-Fluent in order to ensure the uniform flow of heat transfer medium between tubes. By comparing the CFD simulation results with the results of Bell-Delaware method, the reliability of the CFD simulation was verified. Through simulation of a sheet-like model with a central angle of 15 °, the effects of tube-to-baffle clearance on the temperature distribution and flow pressure drop of cooling medium in shell side were studied. The simulation results showed that the temperature is relatively high in a zone locating near the notch area of the third baffle and in a strip-shaped region at a certain distance away from the baffle, and its position and shape changed significantly with the change of tube-to-baffle clearance. The total pressure drop and temperature distribution in the shell side was directly affected by the size of tube-to-baffle clearance. Considering the radial temperature difference and the total pressure drop, the optimum size of tube-to-baffle clearance of the reactor was obtained for reactors with different diameters. The simulation results provide a basis for the design of multi-tubular fixed bed reactor with uniform flow between tubes.
Xia Tian,Shu Zhongming,Shen Rongchun et al. CFD Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in the Shell Side of Cross-Flow Multi-Tubular Reactor[J]. 化学反应工程与工艺, 2018, 34(5): 385-392.
