Project Area A:
Developing components for in situ detection and self-adjustment of SMART reactors
The aim of this project area is to develop reactor components that are able to detect the local process conditions in situ and respond by changing the geometry, flow conditions, heat fluxes, etc. in order to optimally adjust the reactor.
In Area A, the most critical reaction conditions will be detected like spatial
- pressure distribution (channelling or blockage),
- temperature distribution (hot spots),
- concentration distribution (dead zones, mass transfer limitations),
- hold-up distribution (maldistribution of phase boundaries),
- distribution of catalyst state (poor catalyst performance)
- moisture distribution (overwetting)
without influencing the conditions themselves (in situ measurements), with high temporal and spatial resolution and under industrial reaction conditions.To handle the above-mentioned unfavourable local conditions, a local adjustment needs to be enabled like
- adaptation of flow guiding geometries (e.g. baffles, structures)
- accessibility of catalytic sites (e.g. surface texture, wettability)
- adaptation of electrical charge (e.g. H2 generation by electrolysis)
- adaptation of heating or cooling (e.g. endothermic/exothermic reaction)
- feed or removal of substances (e.g. stripping gas, in situ product removal)
with great robustness against harsh environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, attack by organic solvents, scaling, fouling, leaching).
