Microfibrous Entrapped Catalysts (MFECs)
MFECs allow catalytic processes to be run at significantly higher volumetric reaction rates than currently possible by decreasing mass transfer resistances and enhancing heat transfer in a simple, scalable packed bed configuration.
Optimal performance for a given catalyst can be achieved when its reaction rate is controlled intrinsically; however, heat and mass transfer limitations are often present in catalystic systems that result in decreased performance. These limitations are typically encountered in the most common type of catalytic reactor, the packed bed. This occurs because relatively large particles must be used to minimize pressure drop, and packed catalyst beds have low thermal conductivities. While complex reactor designs such as the fluidized bed and slurry bed reactor are commonly employed in an attempt to overcome these limitations, they face other challenges such as catalyst-product separation, difficult scale-up, and high operating costs. Packed beds are still the most common reactor type because they are easy to construct, model, scale, and operate. Microfibrous entrapment offers a method to reduce or eliminate intra-particle heat and mass transfer limitations using a frozen-fluidized-bed configuration.
MFEC APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS
Microfibrous entrapped catalysts (MFECs) are an ideal solution to enhance any catalytic processes where catalyst performance is limited by transport-based inefficiencies, and improved heterogeneous contacting and/or heat transfer are needed. Visit the MFEC applications page to learn more about the reactive systems where MFECs are best applied.
MFEC Preparation
The microfibrous media (MFM), which functions as the catalyst carrier, is prepared by a robust, scalable wet-lay process. This process results in a highly porous structure (~94%) that consists of randomly oriented microfibers that are micro-welded via sintering. The random orientation of the microfibers provides a uniform flow profile throughout the bed, which minimizes channeling and assists with mixing. MFECs are prepared using a proprietary method that locks small catalyst particles (0-35 vol.%) within the microfibrous media. The microfibrous structure can be formed from a variety of materials including metals (Cu, Ni, etc.), alloys (stainless steel, brass), polymers, and glass, allowing the support structure to be tailored to a given reaction system. Metals are typically used when enhanced heat transfer is needed. Polymeric entrapment can be performed for low-temperature processes where minimizing mass transfer resistance is the primary concern, and glass fibers are the ideal material when enhanced mass transfer and corrosion resistance are required.
Enhanced Performance Explained
The enhanced catalytic performance of MFECs arises from the ability to utilize small catalyst particles (40-300 micron) effectively. For catalyst systems that are pore-diffusion limited, decreasing the catalyst particle diameter decreases the internal mass transfer resistance, thus enhancing the observed reaction rate and effectiveness factor. Depending on the reaction system, and MFEC will typically have an effectiveness factor 2 - 15 times higher than that of the same catalyst operating in a traditional packed bed, and in many cases intra-particle diffusion resistance can be eliminated completely (effectiveness factor ≈ 1). This increase in efficiency allows enhanced production from a much smaller volumetric catalyst loading (12-30 volume % for an MFEC versus 60% volume % for a packed bed). Decreasing the volumetric catalyst loading and increasing the effectiveness of the active phase are especially important for catalyst systems that utilize expensive components such as precious metals. Furthermore, the highly porous nature of the MFEC allows the microfibrous bed to have 1/3 the pressure drop of a packed bed of the same length containing only entrapped particles.
For most energy-intensive processes (exothermic and endothermic), excellent heat transfer is a must for optimal product selectivity, decent conversion, ease of operation, and operational safety. MFECs made of thermally conductive materials will have an effective radial thermal conductivity 5 to 50 times that of an alumina packed bed with a 10 fold improvement in the inside-the-wall heat transfer coefficient. The micron-diameter fibers also have much higher surface area for heat exchange than the catalyst particles. The enhanced heat transfer of MFECs results in lower radial temperature gradients than in packed bed reactors. It also allows the stream flowing through an MFEC to reach thermal equilibrium much faster than in a packed bed reactor. Maintaining a uniform radial temperature profile in the reactor is especially beneficial when catalyst selectivity is extremely sensitive to temperature as is the case in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, mixed-alcohol synthesis, and most fine chemical syntheses. When packed bed reactors are used industrially for heat-intensive, temperature-selective reactions, the diameter of an individual reactor tube is often limited to 1-2 in.; however, the enhanced performance of MFECs offers the opportunity to use a larger diameter bed with an improved temperature profile.
Summary
Microfibrous entrapment allows catalytic processes to be run at significantly higher volumetric reaction rates than currently possible with enhanced thermal management in a simple, scalable packed bed configuration. These benefits result in enhanced production from a given catalyst system with a reduction in reactor size, enhanced energy utilization, and decreased catalyst cost. Furthermore, MFECs are superior to metal honeycomb approches because of the ease of the catalyst loading process and the ability to achieve higher catalyst loadings.