Method for maximizing the reaction volume in a slurry phase reactor

Abstract

Method for maximizing the reaction volume in a slurry phase reactor by determining the ratio (f) between the height of the foams (H) and the height of the reactor (H) through an algorithm defining the gas hold-up in three zones, a first lower zone in which a bubble regime is established, a second intermediate zone where there can be the presence of foams, a third zone situated in the upper hemispherical part in which the multiphase mixture is accelerated until it reaches outlet conditions, the average gas hold-up being given by the weighted average of each of the three gas hold-ups of the three zones, characterized in that it uses nuclear densimeters positioned inside the reactor at different heights and comprises: measuring, for each nuclear densimeter used, gas density values, relating to different gas and/or slurry velocities, which correspond through said algorithm to calculated gas hold-up values, revealing, with a calculated gas hold-up of less than 40%, the absence of foams at least up to the height at which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, with a calculated gas hold-up higher than 70%, the presence of foams starting at least from the height of the reactor in which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, finally, determining through said algorithm, the ratio f and the extension in height of the possible presence of foams, calculating the consequent height H.