MODELING OF A MEMBRANE REACTOR FOR DEHYDROGENATION OF ETHYLBENZENE

Abstract

Membrane reactor is a device in which the reaction and separation through membrane are carried out simultaneously in one unit. This kind of arrangement is particular important for reactions which are equilibrium limited out of many such reactions dehydrogenation is very important reaction industrially. The majority of chemical reactions do not reach complete conversion of the reactants, but in general, they reach an equilibrium conversion below 100%. The shift of conversion beyond its value at equilibrium at equilibrium can be achieved by continuous removal of the reaction products with membrane reaction products with membrane reactors. For the dehydrogenation reactions, since they are endothermic, the conversion favors high temperatures at the price of significant occurrence of side reactions, which reduce selectivity and lead to catalyst deactivation by cooking. By using a membrane reactor, the same conversion could be obtained at lower temperature thereby suppressing undesired reactions. The permeated reaction product can also be recovered in a rather pure form. One such industrially important process is styrene production from ethylbenzene I dehydrogenation. The system proposed to study is dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene for production of styrene with its side reactions. The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to manufacture styrene is very important process industrially. as the reaction is reversible. The conversion is limited because of thermodynamic equilibrium due to continuous removal of product. The yield can be improved by carrying out reaction inside the membrane reactor. The reaction is carried out in a tube side packed with catalyst and in isothermal condition. Mathematical model is required which can predict the conversion and yields of reactants and products respectively. Thus it is desirable to develop a mathematical model for manufacturing of styrene from EB in membrane reactor. The model equations are solved by using MATLAB ODE (Ordinary Differential Equations) solvers. The industrial operating data are available in literature are selected for testing the model predictions and to ascertain the correctness of the proposed model.