A new analytical approximation to the extended Brinkman equation

•New analytical approximation to the extended Brinkman equation is proposed.•New approximation is in excellent agreement with solution of Brinkman equation.•Significant improvement compared to existing approximation from literature.•Replacing Brinkman equation with new approximation reduces model complexity.•Significant reduction of computing time demonstrated by optimization case study.

In this contribution, a new analytical approximation to the extended Brinkman equation, based on the previous work of Vortmeyer and Schuster is presented. The new approximation can be utilized for modelling pseudo-homogeneous two-dimensional fixed bed reactors. In the present contribution we focus on the applicability of the new approximation to the widely accepted heat and mass transport correlations proposed by Winterberg et al. Replacing the Brinkman equation with the new analytical approximation in an existing reactor model reduces the model complexity and thereby the computational effort with basically no loss of accuracy. This is exemplified by an optimization case study of an ethylene oxide reactor (air-based process variant) which is provided as supplementary material.

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