Simulation of an inert membrane reactor for the synthesis of maleic anhydride

A simulation of an inert membrane reactor in the partial oxidation of butan e to maleic anhydride in high butane concentrations (2 - 13%) is presented A porous membrane was used to distribute oxygen to a fixed bed of VPO catal yst, to which butane was fed. Two different reactor configurations were sim ulated: a standard inert membrane reactor, in which oxygen permeates inward from the shell side and the catalyst is packed on the tube side; an outwar d flow inert membrane reactor; in which the catalyst bed is packed on the s hell side and oxygen flows outward from the tube side. The model explains t he different performances of both types of reactor in terms of the interact ion between the oxygen and hydrocarbon concentration profiles and the tempe rature profiles that are obtained with both reactor configurations.