Hydrogen membrane reactor ethane catalytic dehydrogenation

Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Ethane in Hydrogen Membrane Reactor... 

As an example the use of ceramic membranes for ethane dehydrogenation has been discussed (91). The constmction of a commercial reactor, however, is difficult, and a sweep gas is requited to shift the product composition away from equiUbrium values. The achievable conversion also depends on the permeabihty of the membrane. Figure 7 shows the equiUbrium conversion and the conversion that can be obtained from a membrane reactor by selectively removing 80% of the hydrogen produced. Another way to use membranes is only for separation and not for reaction. In this method, a conventional, multiple, fixed-bed catalytic reactor is used for the dehydrogenation. After each bed, the hydrogen is partially separated using membranes to shift the equihbrium. Since separation is independent of reaction, reaction temperature can be optimized for superior performance. Both concepts have been proven in bench-scale units, but are yet to be demonstrated in commercial reactors. 

We have made significant advances in hydrogen separating ceramic membrane (H-membrane) technology [10]. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate its application to catalytic dehydrogenation of ethane and assess the feasibility of enhancement of olefin production in a membrane reactor. 

Commercialization of catalytic dehydrogenation of ethane in a membrane reactor could possibly occur either by developing a catalyst that makes the rate determining step sensitive to the partial pressure of hydrogen or developing an ethylene permselective membrane. 

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