First order rate processes and axial dispersion in packed bed reactors

By employing recently secured data for the axial dispersion of mass flowing through fixed beds, it is shown that for first order isothermal processes conducted in fixed beds of practical aspect ratios (L/Dp), the effect of mixing upon kinetics is insignificant. It follows that in shallow bed systems usually employed in kinetic research efforts, the influence of axial mixing cannot be ignored, particularly in the case of a liquid reactant. The dispersion data and the analyses support the contention of Ergun (14) and the recent treatment of the problem by Epstein (16).