MODELING AND SIMULATION OF PERVAPORATION MEMBRANE REACTOR

Abstract

Membrane reactor is a chemical reactor integrated with a membrane as a separator. In case of condensation reactions esterification reactions are best suited, because most of these are reversible endothermic reactions and the conversion is very slow. So there is a potential to enhance the reactant conversion into product. In this thesis we considered three systems over which I did work on "Modeling and Simulation of Pervaporation Membrane Reactor" From thermodnamic point of view the conversion of esterification reaction is limited by the equilibrium value. In order to increase conversion this process is carried out in membrane reactor. The reactor in this case is continuous stirred tank reactor integrated with membrane. With an idea to keep some assumptions, the mathematical model appears to have an unmatched concerns for analysis and simulation process. In this work, a steady state model for isothermal condition has been developed which incorporates ordinary differential equations along with boundary conditions for state variables and appropriate parameters. The model equations are solved with Polymath (RICF045). The experimental operating data are available in literature were selected for testing the model predictions and to ascertain the correctness of proposed model. The influence of several important operating variables on the esterification pervaporation reactor performance has been analyzed. Pervaporation and reaction rate are both increased with the operating temperature. Decreasing the initial molar reactant ratio of isopropanol with acetic acid, the ester rate formation increases significantly. When the S/Vo ratio increases higher ester conversions are obtained. Finally the effect of catalyst concentration has been considered showing that the final water content decreases with increasing catalyst concentration. From the results it can be concluded the right choice of these parameters has a great influence on the performance of the esterification pervaporation reactor. The results obtained with the model are in best agreement with the experimental values.