Optimization of Fluidized Bed Isothermal Reactor in a Styrene Production Process

The focus of this thesis is to explain the optimization of a fluidized bed isothermal reactor in a styrene production process. The first section of the thesis gives a summary of chemical process optimization in general. The next portion of the thesis gives an introduction to chemical process simulation software, and it explains how simulation software aids in the design and optimization of chemical processes. The third section of the thesis gives a brief overview of an optimization project of a styrene production process that was completed in the previous semester with a group of three. The final section explains the optimization of a fluidized bed reactor in the styrene production process discussed in the previous section of the thesis. The results of the reactor optimization produced a reactor system that has a total fluidized catalyst bed volume of 75.4 m3 with 15 reactors in parallel. The optimized reactor operates at a temperature of 715°C and a pressure of 75 kPa, and it produces a total flowrate of styrene of 193 kmol/hr and yield of ethylbenzene to styrene of 68 %