Catalytic dehydrogenation of cyclohexane: A transport controlled model

Abstract

AbstractExperimental data and a mathematical model for the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane on a platinum‐on‐alumina catalyst in the presence of excess hydrogen are presented. Differential rate data were obtained by using a fixed bed flow reactor over a temperature range of 400° to 500°C., and a pressure range of 21.3 to 41.8 atm. at modified Reynold's numbers of 20 to 65. Cyclohexane concentration was varied from 16 to 25 mole %. In the development of the basic model, complete transport control of the overall reaction rate with equilibrium at the fluid external surface interface is assumed. The average deviation between experimentally determined and basic model calculated rates was 5.65%.Modification of the model by replacing the equilibrium assumption by a crude surface rate expression resulted in a reduction in average deviation to 4.3% and the maximum deviation was reduced from 22 to 12%.