Avoidance of flammability and temperature runaway during oxidative dehydrogenation using a distributed feed

A relatively simple model has been used to simulate the oxidative dehydroge nation of ethane to ethylene in a fixed-bed reactor. Full account of the ki netics of the main oxygen-consuming reaction have been incorporated in the model using previously published kinetics for the reaction over a Mo-V-Nb c atalyst. Use of a distributed oxygen feed enables the problem of the feed f lammability to be avoided and in addition, shows a significant improvement on reactor performance in terms of ethylene yield and selectivity. A distri buted oxygen feed also overcomes the problem of reaction runaway and enable s operation to be achieved over a wider range of reactor parameters. (C) 19 98 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.