To successfully implement the aerosol catalysis technology for production operations, we need, first and foremost, to address the following three tasks:

• Make finely dispersed particles
• Generate an aerosol inside the reaction space
• Separate the fine catalyst from reaction products and recirculate the catalyst

Today, reduction of solid materials to any grain size is commonly used by industry. As for aerosol generation, this process has been a subject of research, and an array of technical solutions has been proposed to this end. These solutions have been delivered in a set of options for laboratory units and, later, for a commercial-scale pilot plant. Finding a solution for separating a fine catalyst from reaction products and recycling it has required lengthy research and experimental studies – since it represents the most critical element of the technology, especially given the particle sizes. Eventually, materials and devices were found that ensured recovery of 99.99 percent of the catalyst from the gaseous phase.

Efficiency of the aerosol catalyst technology was validated not only by laboratory testing, but also in the course of commercial operation of pilot plants in Severodonetsk, Ukraine, and Haessleholm, Sweden. The units demonstrated stable operability and efficiency of the proposed engineering solutions for aerosol catalysis applications and helped to identify key improvement areas for the design of certain parts. We should note that the aerosol catalysis technology can be used not only for catalytic cracking but for other catalytic processes as well, such as catalytic waste neutr ... Читать дальше »