Analysis of single- and multi-stage membrane reactors for the selective oxidation of short-chain alkanes – simulation study and pilot scale experiments

TL;DRAbstract

Based on an optimal distributed dosing of reactants and the resulting concentration and residence time effects the product spectrum can differ in a membrane reactor compared to a conventional fixed-bed reactor. In case of low oxygen concentrations the selectivity of the desired product ethylene can be increased significantly compared to the conventional fixed-bed reactor. The obtained results for the ODH of propane are similar even though the increase of the propylene selectivity is not so distinctive compared to ethylene. This reactor principle can be further enhanced using a multi stage reactant feeding with an increasing dosing profile (O<sub>2</sub> concentration and total volumetric flow rate). The developed detailed 2D models allow a good mathematical description of the exothermal reactions taking place in the membrane reactor.

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