Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: Steady state one dimensional pseudo-homogeneous models of an axial flow industrial catalytic packed bed ammonia converter have been developed. The converter is a vertical four catalytic bed reactor with varying volumes of catalysts. Effects of temperature changes on the catalyst surface and in its interior were incorporated in the model by an effectiveness factor. The models were used to predict conversions, concentrations of reactant/product mixtures and temperature profiles along the catalyst beds. The developed models consisted of ordinary differential equations which were solved numerically using the 4th order Runge-Kutta algorithm implemented with MatLab ode45 solver. The accuracy of the models was ascertained with industrial plant data from Notore Chemical Industry, Onne, Rivers State. The results obtained from solutions to the models compared favorably with output plant data of the ammonia converter with a maximum deviation between models predictions and actual plant data of 6.7%. Consequently, simulation studies of the converter was performed varying operating parameters such as feed flow rates, inlet temperatures and pressures to determine their effects on the performance of the converter.