Butane partial oxidation in an externally fluidized bed-membrane reactor

An externally fluidized bed-membrane reactor (EFBMR) for partial oxidation reactions is described. This novel reactor concept combines the advantages of fixed bed and fluid bed reactors. Catalyst is loaded inside a porous membrane tube into which the hydrocarbon is fed. An oxygen rich gas fluidizes a powder on the shell side. Oxygen crosses the membrane wall and reacts. Butane partial oxidation to maleic anhydride was adopted as the model reaction and the kinetic parameters were derived based on a full scale commercial pilot plant. A detailed reaction engineering model of the EFBMR showed that hot spots are minimized and the reactor is inherently safer because the flammability potential is lower. Maleic yields are potentially 50% higher in an EFBMR compared to a conventional fixed bed reactor and the reactant concentration operating range is much wider. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.