Mathematical model and computer simulation of a multitubular reactor for the production of maleic anhidride by butane oxidation

E. MIRÓ; A. VECCHIETTI

Barcelona (España)

Congreso; 6th. Mediterranean Congress on Chemical Engineering; 1993

Sociedad Española de Química Industrial

Maleic anhydride, an important industril intermidiate product, has seen its world demand sutainedly increased during the last decade. Most of the plants currently in operation use multitubular fixed bed reactors. The mathematical models reported in the literature for n-butane oxidation employ the simplification of homogeneous temperature in the cooling salt bath (Lee et. al. 1985; Wellaver et al., 1986). This approximation under certain operation conditions, may introduce significant errors in the simulation results. The present work describes the computer simulation of a multitubular catalytic reactor of butane oxidation to maleic anhydride, in which both sides of the reactor, the tubes and the shell, have been modelled considering non-homogeneous temperature in the melted salt bath.