Radial flow fixed bed reactor merupakan reaktor kimia dua fasa yaitu padat-cair yang dilengkapi dengan unggun katalis. Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk merancang reaktor, menguji karakteristik fisik berdasarkan variasi diameter simulator katalis 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm dengan laju alir 1,8 LPM serta membandingkan karakteristiknya dengan axial flow fixed bed reactor. Reaktor dirancang dengan bahan dasar berupa akrilik. Dimensi reaktor memiliki diameter distributor 5 cm, diameter tangki anulus sebesar 17 cm, dan tinggi 4 cm. Karakteristik fisik yang uji meliputi RTD, dispersion number, volume efektif, dan reactor illness dengan menggunakan metode pulse serta mengamati fenomena distribusi alirannya. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa semakin besar ukuran diameter simulator katalis semakin besar pula nilai RTD dan volume efektifnya. Sementara nilai dispersion number berada rentang 0,18-0,26 yaitu dalam wilayah large amount dipersion. Sehingga, reaktor cenderung menyerupai CSTR dengan adanya reactor illness berupa time lag. Fenomena distribusi aliran diamati dari nilai difusivitias sebesar 0,000126 dan Schmidt Number sebesar 0,007 yang selalu sama pada setiap variasi diameter simulator katalis. Berdasarkan mean residence time¬-¬nya reaktor aksial memiliki kondisi aliran backflow sementara reaktor radial channeling dan reaktor aksial memiliki variansi yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan reaktor radial. Kedua reaktor berada pada kondisi large amount dispersion. Diameter simulator katalis lebih berpengaruh terhadap volume efektif pada reaktor aksial. Reactor illness pada reaktor aksial memiliki sifat menyerupai CSTR dengan slow internal recirculation. Sementara, karakteristik lainnya sama.

Radial flow fixed bed reactor (RFFBR) is a two-phase solid-liquid chemical reactor equipped with catalyst bed. RFFBR provides a wider cross-sectional area as fluid travels along radial direction, thereby increasing the surface area of the fluid's contact with the catalyst. This research aimed for designing an RFFBR with 1-liter volume, testing its physical characteristics that consist of residence time distribution, effective volume, dispersion number, reactor illness, diffusivity, and Schmidt number. The catalyst simulator diameters are varied at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm, while the flow rate at 1.8 liters per minute. Characteristics of this reactor are also compared with axial flow fixed bed reactor. Characteristic examination of the reactor was carried out by the pulse method using saturated CuSO4 solutions as tracer. Fabrication of the reactor resulting RFFBR dimension as follows: distributor diameter 5 cm, annulus tank diameter 17 cm, and annulus tank height 4 cm. This research showed that larger diameter of the catalyst simulator makes the greater RTD and effective volume value. The dispersion number of RFFBR is 0.18-0.26, namely large amount dispersion, hence, the reactor resembles CSTR with time lag illness. The diffusivity of the reactor is 0.000126 m2/s while the Schmidt number is 0.007. Based on the mean residence time, the axial reactor has backflow condition while the radial reactor has channeling condition. The axial reactor has higher variance compared to radial reactor. The axial illness is slow internal recirculation while the radial reactor illness is time lag. Meanwhile, the other characteristics are same.

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