Numerical simulation of radiation distribution in a slurry reactor: The effect of distribution of catalyst particles

The multiphase flow leads a non-uniform distribution of catalyst particles in a slurry reactor. The previous studies used the inlet catalyst loading to compute the absorption coefficient and the scattering coefficient in the slurry reactor, which did not consider the non-uniform distribution of catalyst particle. The present study numerically studies the effect of multiphase flow on the radiation distribution in a slurry reactor. Herein, the absorption coefficient and the scattering coefficient are related to the local volume fraction of catalyst. The volume fraction of catalyst is obtained using the Eulerian-Eulerian method. The radiative transfer equation is solved using the DO model. Results show that the local catalyst loading are non-uniform in the slurry reactor. The reactor-averaged catalyst loading is always less than the inlet catalyst loading. It may leads to the underestimation of the incident radiation as well as UV disinfection and the overestimation of LVREA and as well as photocatalytic reaction rate. It is more reasonable to compute the absorption coefficient and the scattering coefficient using the local catalyst loading. A large diameter and a large inlet catalyst loading can lead to a large catalyst loading in the reactor, the large absorption coefficient and scattering coefficient, meaning a low radiation intensity in the reactor. There exists an optimal inlet catalyst loading for the photocatalytic reaction.