Catalytic reactor engineering ⇒ information-driven design of packed (operando), fluidized, multi-functional, and -phase reactors

Problem statement

At lab-scale, the ultimate goal of a catalytic reactor is to provide (1) reliable kinetic information, neglecting or controlling other phenomena (heat-mass transfer and hydrodynamics); (2) high-throughput data to amplify the results, accelerate model and catalyst discoveries; and (3) results with the minimum requirements of reactants and wastes generated. The pillars of these reactors are quality, quantity, and safety.

We design, build and test different laboratory-scale reactors. Our strategy involves creating and testing reactor prototypes while modeling these using our workflow. We have high-speed cameras, probes, and other measuring instruments to understand the reactor behavior. We focus on packed-, fluidized-bed, and multiphase reactors:

In packed bed reactors, we focus on forced dynamic and operando reactors. These are the quintessence of information-driven reactors where the dynamics can involve flow changes, temperature, pressure, partial pressure, presence of activity modifiers (poissons, H2O…). In operando reactors, we follow a spectro-kinetic-deactivation-hydrodynamic approach to resolve the individual steps involved. In fluidized bed reactors, we focus on downers and multifunctional reactors (circulating, multizone or two-zone, Berty reactors) We focus on trickle-bed, slurry, and bio-electrochemical reactors in multiphase bed reactors.

Al pilot-plant scale, we aim to reach the maximum productivity levels while solving the growing pains: the scale-up. Based on a robust kinetic model obtained in the intrinsic kinetic reactor (lab-scale) and using computational fluid dynamics, we design, build, and operate pilot plants. At this stage, we seek partnerships with investment or industrial enterprises to make these pilot plants.

Goals

  • Multifunctional fluidized bed reactors ⇒ multizone, circulating...
  • Packed bed membrane reactors
  • Forced dynamic reactors ⇒ pulsing, SSITKA...
  • Forced dynamic operando reactors ⇒ DRIFTS, TPSR...
  • Operando reactors
  • Spray fluidized bed reactors
  • Downer reactor I ⇒ micro downer
  • Downer reactor II ⇒ counter-current and scale-up
  • Batch Berty reactor ⇒ short contact time
  • Multiphase reactors ⇒ trickle bed and slurry
  • High throughput experimentation (HTE) reactors
  • Photo-thermal and bioreactors
  • Reactor visualization and prototyping lab
  • Spatio-temporal hydrodynamic characterization and validation

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Related Publications

Opportunities and Barriers for Producing High Quality Fuels from the Pyrolysis of Scrap Tires

by Hita, Arabiourrutia, Olazar, Bilbao, Arandes, Castaño
Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. Year: 2016

Extra Information

Highly Cited Paper and Hot Paper according to Essential Science Indicators.

Abstract

The 7·106 t of waste tires that are generated yearly represent for a potential source of fuels considering its composition, rich in C and H, and its chemical features. Waste tires can be recycled through several processes aiming for either material, energy, or chemical product recovery. In this work we review the current status of these valorization pathways, with a particular focus on pyrolysis, its main products and their characteristics. Despite the extended reviews on the pyrolysis of tires, scarce material is available regarding the possibilities that scrap tires pyrolysis oil (STPO) offers and its limitations. STPO is both the most economically and energetically attractive product, and its composition (as obtained by different authors) is analyzed in this work, finding that the main barriers to solve for its direct implementation are (i) high sulfur content, (ii) high content of aromatics and (iii) high proportion of heavy molecules (>350 °C). From an industrial perspective, a sequential 2-stage hydrotreating–hydrocracking strategy has been proposed for STPO upgrading in order to simultaneously overcoming all these limitations and produce high quality fuels.

Keywords

HPC W2C CRE ANW