Ethylene production by the thermal cracking of naphtha is an energy-intensive process (up to 40 GJ heat per tonne ethylene), leading to significant formation of coke and nitrogen oxide (NOx), along with 1,8- 2 kg ...Ethylene production by the thermal cracking of naphtha is an energy-intensive process (up to 40 GJ heat per tonne ethylene), leading to significant formation of coke and nitrogen oxide (NOx), along with 1,8- 2 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per kilogram of ethylene produced, We propose an alternative pro- cess for the redox oxy-cracking (ROC) of naphtha, In this two-step process, hydrogen (H2) from naphtha cracking is selectively comhusted by a redox catalyst with its lattice oxygen first, The redox catalyst is subsequently re-oxidized by air and releases heat, which is used to satisfy the heat requirement for the cracking reactions, This intensified process reduces parasitic energy consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions, Moreover, the formation of ethylene and propylene can he enhanced due to the selective com-bustion of H2, In this study, the ROC process is simulated with ASPEN Plus^R based on experimental data from recently developed redox catalysts, Compared with traditional naphtha cracking, the ROC process can provide up to 52% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, The upstream section of the process consumes approximately 67% less energy while producing 28% more ethylene and propylene for every kilogram of naphtha feedstock,展开更多
Currently, thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons for the production of basic petrochemicals(ethylene, propylene) is carried out in steam-cracking processes. Aside from the conventional method, under consideration are ...Currently, thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons for the production of basic petrochemicals(ethylene, propylene) is carried out in steam-cracking processes. Aside from the conventional method, under consideration are alternative ways purposed for process intensification. In the context of these activities, the method of hightemperature pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a heat-carrier flow is studied, which differs from previous ones and is based on the ability of an ultra-short time of feedstock/heat-carrier mixing. This enables to study the pyrolysis process at high temperature(up to 1500 K) at the reactor inlet. A set of model experiments is conducted on the lab scale facility. Liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) and naphtha are used as a feedstock. The detailed data are obtained on temperature and product distributions within a wide range of the residence time. A theoretical model based on the detailed kinetics of the process is developed, too. The effect of governing parameters on the pyrolysis process is analyzed by the results of the simulation and experiments. In particular, the optimal temperature is detected which corresponds to the maximum ethylene yield. Product yields in our experiments are compared with the similar ones in the conventional pyrolysis method. In both cases(LPG and naphtha), ethylene selectivity in the fast-mixing reactor is substantially higher than in current technology.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the US National Science Foundation (CBET-1604605) and the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technol-ogy and Science at North Carolina State University.
文摘Ethylene production by the thermal cracking of naphtha is an energy-intensive process (up to 40 GJ heat per tonne ethylene), leading to significant formation of coke and nitrogen oxide (NOx), along with 1,8- 2 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per kilogram of ethylene produced, We propose an alternative pro- cess for the redox oxy-cracking (ROC) of naphtha, In this two-step process, hydrogen (H2) from naphtha cracking is selectively comhusted by a redox catalyst with its lattice oxygen first, The redox catalyst is subsequently re-oxidized by air and releases heat, which is used to satisfy the heat requirement for the cracking reactions, This intensified process reduces parasitic energy consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions, Moreover, the formation of ethylene and propylene can he enhanced due to the selective com-bustion of H2, In this study, the ROC process is simulated with ASPEN Plus^R based on experimental data from recently developed redox catalysts, Compared with traditional naphtha cracking, the ROC process can provide up to 52% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, The upstream section of the process consumes approximately 67% less energy while producing 28% more ethylene and propylene for every kilogram of naphtha feedstock,
文摘Currently, thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons for the production of basic petrochemicals(ethylene, propylene) is carried out in steam-cracking processes. Aside from the conventional method, under consideration are alternative ways purposed for process intensification. In the context of these activities, the method of hightemperature pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a heat-carrier flow is studied, which differs from previous ones and is based on the ability of an ultra-short time of feedstock/heat-carrier mixing. This enables to study the pyrolysis process at high temperature(up to 1500 K) at the reactor inlet. A set of model experiments is conducted on the lab scale facility. Liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) and naphtha are used as a feedstock. The detailed data are obtained on temperature and product distributions within a wide range of the residence time. A theoretical model based on the detailed kinetics of the process is developed, too. The effect of governing parameters on the pyrolysis process is analyzed by the results of the simulation and experiments. In particular, the optimal temperature is detected which corresponds to the maximum ethylene yield. Product yields in our experiments are compared with the similar ones in the conventional pyrolysis method. In both cases(LPG and naphtha), ethylene selectivity in the fast-mixing reactor is substantially higher than in current technology.