Publication Date:
2013-09-25
Description:
An industrial-scale reactor for ethylene production was modeled using the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) in a multi-tubular reactor system, examining a variety of parameters affecting reactor performance. The model showed that a double-bed multi-tubular reactor with intermediate air injection scheme was superior to a single-bed design, due to the increased ethylene selectivity while operating under lower oxygen partial pressures. The optimized reactor length for 100 % oxygen conversion was theoretically determined for both reactor designs. The use of a distributed oxygen feed with a limited number of injection points indicated a significant improvement on the reactor performance in terms of ethane conversion and ethylene selectivity. This concept also overcame the reactor runaway temperature problem and enabled operations over a wider range of conditions to obtain enhanced ethylene production. High demands for ethylene call for more efficient reactor designs. This model for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane for a Ni-Nb-O mixed-oxide catalyst showed that a double-bed multi-tubular reactor with air injection is superior to a single-bed design, due to an increased ethylene selectivity while operating under lower oxygen partial pressures.
Print ISSN:
0930-7516
Electronic ISSN:
1521-4125
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
