Experimental investigation of fluidized-bed reactor performance for oxidative coupling of methane

Abstract

Performance of the oxidative coupling of methane in fluidized-bed reactor was experimentally investigated using Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2, La2O3/CaO and La2O3-SrO/CaO catalysts. These catalysts were found to be stable, especially Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst. The effect of sodium content of this catalyst was analyzed and the challenge of catalyst agglomeration was addressed using proper catalyst composition of 2%Mn-2.2%Na2WO4/SiO2. For other two catalysts, the effect of Lanthanum-Strontium content was analyzed and 10%La2O3–20%SrO/CaO catalyst was found to provide higher ethylene yield than La2O3/CaO catalyst. Furthermore, the effect of operating parameters such as temperature and methane to oxygen ratio were also reviewed. The highest ethylene and ethane (C2) yield was achieved with the lowest methane to oxygen ratio around 2. 40.5% selectivity to ethylene and ethane and 41% methane conversion were achieved over La2O3-SrO/CaO catalyst while over Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst, 40% and 48% were recorded, respectively. Moreover, the consecutive effects of nitrogen dilution, ethylene to ethane production ratio and other performance indicators on the down-stream process units were qualitatively discussed and Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst showed a better performance in the reactor and process scale analysis.