Use of Cold Flow Modeling and CFD for New Product Development

Internals are installed in reactors and distillation columns for fluid mixing, distribution and separation of hydrocarbon mixtures under high pressure and high temperature conditions. In the development of these internals, it is unlikely to use the process fluid under similar conditions for conducting the testing of the internals to verifying their performance. CFD and cold flow modeling can be valuable tools in the development.

This paper will discuss the development of reactor and distillation internals using CFD and cold flow modeling. Examples and methods will be shown on using CFD and cold flow modeling in new product developments. Guidance will be provided on what CFD and cold flow modeling can do as well as their limitations.