Numerical Calculation of Effectiveness Factors of Non-Cylindrical Catalyst Particles

The effectiveness factors of extruded catalysts of four different shapes were calculated numerically by finite difference method. The results of calculation show that the three-lobed catalyst is much better than cylindrical-shaped in diffusion behavior. When intra-particle diffusion limitation is important, the use of non-cylindrical catalysts can increase superficial reaction rate markedly. An evaluation inequality about the effect of catalyst shape on the effectiveness factor of catalyst is proposed.