Modeling of catalytic reactor for oxidative coupling of methane using La2O3/CaO catalyst

✍ Scribed by Ching Thian Tye; Abdul Rahman Mohamed; Subhash Bhatia

• Book ID: 104427050
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 234 KB
• Volume: 87
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1385-8947
• DOI: 10.1016/s1385-8947(01)00191-7

✦ Synopsis

A one-dimensional model for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) over La 2 O 3 /CaO catalyst in fixed bed reactor has been developed. This model was tested for isothermal, adiabatic and non-isothermal operation modes. The parameters studied were methane to oxygen (CH 4 /O 2 ) ratio, temperature, space velocity, dilution effect of N 2 and H 2 O in the feed. High CH 4 /O 2 ratio favored the OCM reaction but gave low yield of ethylene due to insufficient oxygen under isothermal mode. Conversion, selectivity and yield increased with the temperature and a maximum value of yield was obtained at 1098 K. The presence of inert N 2 gas and H 2 O in feed gave positive effect to the yield in the process. Non-isothermal and adiabatic operations gave a temperature rise during OCM reaction which led to series of reactions that affected the system conversion, yield and selectivity of the desired product. Therefore, feed temperature, CH 4 /O 2 feed ratio and contact time are important parameters in order to control reactor run-away conditions.