MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF TUBULAR REACTORS PACKED WITH A BED OF INERT PARTICLES AT SUPERCRITICAL CONDITIONS

Resumo

The usage of tubular reactors for triglycerides transesterification process at supercritical
condition has gained contrast as a promising technology to large-scale continuous production of
biodiesel. Among the features which make this technique feasible, it is possible to highlight the use of
low quality oils, absence of catalyst and smaller reaction time when compared to conventional
processes.The intensification of continuous processes is possible applying mixing promoters, which
purpose is reducing the mass transfer resistances as a consequence of increasing the contact between the
components. A bed of inert particles inserted in a pipeline might work as a mixing promoter. Thus, this
study aims to examine the triglycerides alcoholysis process at supercritical conditions in a tubular reactor
fulfilled with inert particles. Two types of fillings were considered in this study: glass and stainless steel
316.The Method of Lines was selected to solve the proposed mathematical model. The use of stainless
steel spheres had better simulation results and this behavior occur mainly due to the thermal properties
of this material.