Effect of ethane addition on propane pyrolysis

Abstract

AbstractPyrolysis of propane/argon mixture in the presence of trace quantities (0.1% and 0.9%) of ethane was investigated at reflected shock wave temperatures between 1200 and 2000K. Traces of ethane accelerated propane decomposition at high temperature. However, increase in the quantity of ethane added to propane/argon mixture did not result in the same increase of its accelerating influence. Ethylene, methane and acetylene were the main hydrocarbon reaction products, with small quantities of propylene and ethane detected only at lower temperatures. Below 1500K, addition of ethane slightly enhanced the yields of ethylene and methane at the expense of propylene and ethane respectively. The selectivity for acetylene increased with increasing temperature and with the decline of those for the other products. For none of the products, did the presence of ethane alter the relationship between product formation rates and temperature. The influence of ethane addition on propane pyrolysis at high temperatures was explained in terms of increased radical concentrations, especially hydrogen atoms and vinyl radicals, formed at high conversions. These accounted for the rapid acceleration of propane decomposition and the high yield of acetylene at high temperatures.