Numerical Study of CO2 Conversion to SAF in a Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactor

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to analyze the chemical and physical processes in a fixed bed catalytic reactor converting CO2 to sustainable aviation fuel, providing insights into optimizing reactor design and operation.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled CFD and catalytic reaction simulation approach to understand CO2 hydrogenation in a fixed bed reactor, highlighting the effects of operating parameters.

Findings

Heat and mass transfer processes are critical in reactor performance.

Operating parameters significantly influence conversion efficiency.

Detailed flow and reaction insights aid reactor design improvements.

Abstract

CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbon refers to an indirect pathway of CO2 utilization. Among them, the conversion of CO2 with green H2 to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with high energy density has gained much attention. It offers a promising way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address the fossil fuel crises, and transform a climate killer into valuable products. However, this low-carbon technology is intrinsically complicated. It involves the development of a catalyst, the design of a reaction system, and its operation and product refining. Hence, it is important to understand the chemical process of CO2 hydrogenation in the reactor. In this study, numerical simulations of a fixed bed catalytic reactor for CO2-to-SAF conversion are conducted by coupling CFD with heterogeneous catalytic reactions at the catalytic surface. The heat and mass transfer between the catalyst surface and surrounding fluid flow are resolved in the simulation. A detailed understanding of the reacting flow and catalytic processes is obtained from this study. The impact of operating parameters, i.e., temperature, pressure, mass flow rate, and the ratio between CO2 and H2, is also explored, which provides important insights into the catalytic reactor design and operation.