EFFECT OF PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND TEMPERATURE ON THE CATALYST TORTUOSITY

Effect of temperature gradients, for an exothermic reaction, inside a catalyst pellet and the pore size distribution on the value of tortuosity factor is studied. The structure of the catalyst pellet is simulated using a two dimensional pore network. Material and energy balances for the pore network are written and discretised using a finite difference scheme. Tortuosity factors obtained for the isothermal and non-isothermal pellets are compared. Significant variation of the estimated tortuosity factor with internal particle temperature gradient and pore size is obtained.