Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1977
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
First Advisor
Deran Hanesian
Second Advisor
Jerome J. Salamone
Third Advisor
Hung T. Chen
Abstract
The effect of ultrasonic vibrations on the vapor phase decomposition of cumene to benzene and proplyene was investigated using silica-aluminum as the cracking catalyst.
The system consists of a tubular reactor with a 4 inch long catalyst chamber made from 1 cm. diameter stainless steel tubing. The catalyst bed was irradiated from above by means of an ultrasonic horn.
The reactor was run at temperatures of 850 to 950°F., frequencies of 26,000 and 39,000 Hz, with a power innut of 0.30 watts/cm.2 . Feed rates of 100 to 300 gms./hr. and catalyst particle sizes of 0.0209 to 0.358 cm. were used.
Using the reactor design equation and the data obtained from this research it can be shown that in the area where surface reaction controlled, the surface reaction rate constant was not increased by the addition of ultrasound.
Therefore it is postulated that ultrasonic vibrations do not cause localized heating within the catalyst bed, but that ultrasound causes acoustic streaming within the catalyst pores, resulting on higher diffusion rates.
Recommended Citation
Pietranski, John F., "The effect of ultrasonic vibrations and catalyst particle size on the decomposition of cumene" (1977). Theses. 2107.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2107
