Prediction of the performance of a fluidized bed reactor for the catalytic oxidative CH4 coupling to C2+ hydrocarbons. (26p.)

A mathematical model for the oxidative coupling of CH4 in a fluidized bed reactor was developed. A triangular-path scheme taking into account the direct formation of COx and C2H6 plus ethylene as well as their combustion to COx was applied to describe reaction kinetics. Kinetic parameters were partly derived in a micro-scale fixed bed reactor and partly by tuning of the model. The model predicted well experimental results in a laboratory scale fluidized bed reactor. The numerical calculations of steady-states were carried out in the ranges of inlet partial pressures of CH4 and O2 and of temperatures which might be of applied interest: furthermore, reactor performance was simulated to study how it is affected by a selected number of parameters of the model.