Experimental and analysis study on dispersion of phases in an Ebullated Bed Reactor

Abstract

The effectiveness and performance of industrial hydro-processing Ebullated Bed Reactors (EBRs) are highly dependent on the bed hydrodynamics and operating conditions. In present work, hydrodynamics of EBRs was studied in a cold model experimental setup using air–water–solid particles system. Pressure gradient method and Residence Time Distribution (RTD) technique were used to estimate the individual holdups, and dispersion coefficients in the lab-scale ebullated bed column. System Hydraulic Efficiency (HEF) was also estimated. The results showed that liquid internal recycle ratio, which characterized the EBRs, has a predominant effect on the individual holdups and dispersion coefficients. Empirical correlations were developed for prediction of phase holdups, and dispersion coefficients with good accuracy.