Digital Simulation of the Dynamics of a Fixed-Bed Catalytic Reactor

Abstract

A dynamic model of the process whereby acetone is made from isopropanol in a fixed-bed catalytic reactor is derived from the material and heat balances and the kinetics of the reaction. The difficulties arising during the construction and use of a digital simulation of this kind of model are discussed. In particular, it is shown that stability depends on the order in which the independent variables are integrated and that the use of a single step integration algorithm is possible.