Simulation investigation of oxydehydrogenation of ethane in an industrial-scale turbulent fluidized bed over MoVTeNbO catalyst

In this study, simulation of an industrial-scale turbulent fluidized bed reactor for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over a MoVTeNbO catalyst is presented. The reactor model was based on a mechanistic model which assumes that tube internals present in industrial units minimize gas back-mixing, and that as a characteristic of fluidized turbulent regime, vigorous catalyst particles mixing occur. Therefore, it is assumed that gas plug-flow in the dense bed and perfectly mixed particulate phase in the dense bed, while in the freeboard plug flow of both gas and solids was assumed. Reaction kinetics was described by a previously reported model. Analysis of operating conditions on reactor performance in terms of ethane conversion and ethylene yield and selectivity. Reactor bed temperature was studied in the 400-480oC and ethane feed concentration in the range 1-40%. The effect of fluidization velocity was also considered. Reaction temperature was the variable with most effect on ethane conversion and product yield. Ethylene selectivity above 90% was obtained at reactor temperatures 440oC, however, higher temperatures worked in favor of oxidation reactions. Finally, present simulations of an industrial-scale turbulent fluidized bed were compared with the simulations for an industrial multitube fixed bed reactor reported in the literature.

Keywords: oxydehydrogenation; fluidization; turbulent regime; ethane; industrial scale.

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