Design Data for Ortho-Parahydrogen Converters

Of the many parameters which must be considered in the design of an efficient ortho-parahydrogen converter, the most obvious is choice of an effective catalyst. After this choice there remain as variables the conditions of temperature, pressure, feed composition, and space velocity (or contact time) under which the conversion proceeds. The effect of these variables constitutes the kinetics of the conversion. Studies of conversion catalyzed by unsupported hydrous ferric oxide granules have resulted in sufficient data for reasonably good converter design and have also made possible a first approach to the kinetics problem.