The conversion of light alkanes into alkenes is a highly endothermal catalytic reaction of which the conversion is limited by the thermodynamic equilibrium. Even though the role of the catalyst in the process is important, heat management of the reactor is even more essential.<br/>In the chromium catalyzed Catofin process an adiabatic reactor is used in which heat is provided for the reaction in a cyclical manner. First the catalyst is heated using hot air, after which the endothermal dehydrogenation is performed over the hot catalyst. The heat of reaction is provided by the catalyst bed. After approximately 10 minutes, the catalyst has cooled down to such an extent (by up to 100 K) that re-heating is required. This concept has special requirements for both the catalyst and the reactor. This presentation will show modeling results of the reactor dynamics based on the catalyst kinetics obtained from lab-scale experiments. The model accurately predicts the catalyst conversion and selectivity in the process, as well as the dynamically changing temperature of the catalyst as a function of time and space. Both the redox cycle for the chromium oxide catalyst and catalyst coking are an important parameters for the process heat management. It will be shown that this model can be used to obtain process improvements and provide requirements for improving the catalyst system and the development of alternative reactor concepts.

Modeling of catalytic reactors for light alkane dehydrogenation

255th National Meeting (2018)

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