CFD Simulation of an Industrial Reactor for Thermal Cracking of 1,2-Dichloroethane

The vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is commercially produced on a large scale by thermal cracking of 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) in a tubular reactor immersed in a furnace. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate and predict the performance of an industrial reactor. The reactor conversion as well as the behavior of several process variables such as pressure, temperature, velocity and concentration of components through the reactor were predicted in this work.The results were compared with industrial data and are in agreement with them.

Keywords
Thermal Cracking; CFD; 1,2-Dichloroethane; Tubular Reactor

Authorship

Talles Caio Linhares de Oliveira ^**To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: tallescaio@hotmail.com. Phone: +55 83 9616 9580, +55 83 2101 1518

Laboratory of Numerical Experimentation of Processes, Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Campina Grande, Avenue Aprígio Veloso, 882, 58429-100, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.Federal University of Campina GrandeBrazilCampina Grande, Paraíba, BrazilLaboratory of Numerical Experimentation of Processes, Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Campina Grande, Avenue Aprígio Veloso, 882, 58429-100, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.

Antônio Tavernard Pereira Neto

José Jailson Nicácio Alves

Arioston Araújo de Morais Júnior

Federal University of Paraíba, Chemical Engineering Department,58051-900,João Pessoa, Paraíba, BrazilFederal University of ParaíbaBrazilJoão Pessoa, Paraíba, BrazilFederal University of Paraíba, Chemical Engineering Department,58051-900,João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: tallescaio@hotmail.com. Phone: +55 83 9616 9580, +55 83 2101 1518

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables | Formulas

Figures (21)
Tables (1)
Formulas (26)

Parameter/variable	Value
Inlet mass flow	8.567 [kg/s]
Inlet pressure	2.07 [MPa]
Outlet pressure	1.93 [MPa]
Inlet temperature	523.15 [K]
Outlet temperature	771.15 [K]
Tube length	348.45 [m]
Curvature radius	0.178 [m]
Length of the bends	0.5 [m]
Number of the bends	22 [-]
Reactor diameter	0.15 [m]