Moving bed Reactor

Group Members:
Zeeshan khan 2010-BT –Chem-18
Waheed Akram 2010-BT –Chem-20

Lecturer:
ZOHAIB ATIQ KHAN
 Moving bed Reactor

Synopsis:
 What is MBR?
 Types of MBR
 Operation
 Startup and Shutdown
 Problems and trouble shooting.
 References
 Moving bed Reactor

Moving bed reactors are catalytic reactors in

which the catalyst moves through the reactor
along with the reactants.
 Moving bed Reactor

Different Types of Moving Bed Reactor (MBR):

 Moving bed Reactor

External Circulating Concurrent

Moving Bed Reactor (ECCMBR)

 The idea is to make the process continuous.

 So, we need two reactor: one for reaction and
other one for regeneration of solid catalyst.
 Then, we need to combine the two reactor to
make the process continuous.
 Moving bed Reactor

Radial Flow Moving Bed

Reactor (RFMBR)

Several advantages in comparison to

axial flow moving bed reactors
 Low pressure drop
 High flux capacity
 Easy coupling of chemical reaction
and catalyst regeneration
 Moving bed Reactor

Radial Flow Moving Bed Reactor (RFMBR)

Flow Types
 Moving bed Reactor

Operation:
 Moving bed Reactor

Operations:
 Moving bed Reactor
Difference between Fixed-, Moving- and Fluidized Bed
Reactors
Fixed BED MOVING BED FLUIDIZED BED

Collection of fixed Solid particles move due to Collection of solid

solid particles gravity particles dispersed in
a continuous phase

Unsuitable for continuous Suitable for continuous Suitable for

process process. continuous process

Dangerous for hot Temperature gradients can be High solid mixing

spots for exothermic held ensures uniform
reactions within limits by virtue of high temperature
solids circulation and high gas
throughput.

Large pellets Medium size Fine

(8-20 mm) (2-6 mm) (0.02-0.5mm)
 Moving bed Reactor

Fix Bed Reactor Fluidized Bed Reactor Moving Bed Reactor

 Moving bed Reactor

Moving Bed biofilm Reactor:

In the MBBR bio film technology the bio film grows protected
within engineered plastic carriers, which are carefully designed with
high internal surface area
 Moving bed Reactor

Pre startup Checkup:

 Check that the air holes in the Spurger pipes are facing
downwards.
 Check that there are no openings outside the strainers that the
bio media can pass through.
 Start the air blower against open air valves and throttle
gradually until the discharge pressure is 0.4 barg. Regulate the
blower safety valve to open at 0.4 barg.
Moving bed Reactor
 Moving bed Reactor

Pre startup Checkup:

 Fill the biofilm reactors with water while running the air blower
with fully open diffuser valves and check that the air diffusers
are delivering equal and uniformly distributed amount of air
from each diffuser.
 Moving bed Reactor

Pre startup Checkup:

 Start the feed pump with closed discharge valve and note the
pump pressure . Open the discharge valve fully and note full
flow and discharge pressure.
 Start the chemical pump on water and check capacity.
 Moving bed Reactor

Startup:

 Start charging biofilm reactors with sewage at a flow rate of

100% of rated flow rate.
 Sewage contains sufficient degrading bacteria to develop a
healthy bio-culture in the biofilm reactors without seeding.
 Run the plant 2 days in recirculation after wetting.
 The pH will go down during acidic stage and then up again as
the degradation is being completed.
 Moving bed Reactor

Startup Continues:
 
 When pH is back to initial value, add more sewage to the buffer
tank.
 Continue recirculation and observe pH again.
 Repeat the above procedure one more time after 2 days.
 If the pH returns to its original value, the plant can be taken up
for continuous operation.
 Moving bed Reactor
Shutdown and Restart
 If it becomes necessary to stop the load on the biofilm reactors for a
shorter period, for instance one week, all reactors should be
moderately aerated to keep aerobic bio media condition.
 If it becomes necessary to stop the load on the biofilm reactors for a
longer period, it is recommended to aerate the reactors the first week
after the stop, and to restart aeration 2 days before the reactors are re-
loaded with organic matter.
 Before wastewater again can be pumped to the biological stage, it is
important that all the bio media is in good suspension in all biofilm
reactors first.
 Moving bed Reactor

OPERATION TROUBLES
Main Process Item name Trouble Probable cause Remedy
Step
Aeration Aeration tank Movement of Air distribution is Check the flow
 If aeration orunit
movement of water
waterin in the reactors
reactor not goodis not visible
rate andor
is not visible or backpressure of
have totally stopped, this mean air
have totally
stopped.
distribution is not good.
theCheck
blower. If
capacity and
pressure are
the flow rate and backpressure of the blower. If capacity and correct, check
the air header
pressure are correct, check the air header and distributorsand fordistributors
for leakages.
leakages.
 To control biological growths and the production of odours in the
Settling Settling tank To control Production of the accumulated
settling tank, the accumulated solids
biological
growths
must odor
be flushed
in the tankout solids must be
flushed out
periodically.
periodically.
 Moving bed Reactor

Problems Associated in Radial Flow MBR

Pinning
When the gas velocity exceeds a certain value
The drag force on the particles from the gas
flow results in a frictional force between the
catalyst bed and the vertical wall at the down
stream side of the gas. With increase of the gas
flow rate, the frictional force may become large
enough to prevent the downward movement of
the particle bed near the wall and in this case
pinning occurs.
 Moving bed Reactor

Problems Associated in Radial Flow

MBR
Cavity
When the drag force near the upstream wall
exceeds the compressive stress on the
perforated wall where the gas flows into the
Catalyst bed
Contact between the gas phase and the solids
deteriorates due to bypassing by gas
 Moving bed Reactor

Advantages
 Easy to regenerate catalyst
 Have plug flow
characteristics
 Low catalyst handling cost
 High conversion rate
Disadvantages
 Good selectivity
 Flow of solids not easy to
maintain
 Poor heat transfer
characteristics
 Fluid reactant may bypass
 Moving bed Reactor

Moving Bed Reactor used in Industry

 Coal Gasification reactor

Lab scale Moving Bed Reactor

 Biomass Gasification Process

 Moving bed Reactor

References:
 http://
www.wateronline.com/doc/moving-bed-biofilm-reactor-mb
br-technology-0001

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21751715

 http://
encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Pages/Reactors/Movin
gBed/MovingBed.html

 http://
www.triqua.eu/Triqua/fs3_site.nsf/htmlViewDocuments/44
EBED064A451595C12575200056BE33
 (All the sources are visited on date 28/11/2013)