Kinetic Parameters Optimization and Modeling of Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Heavy Paraffins to Olefins

Abstract

A mathematical model for a fixed bed radial flow catalytic reactor was developed for dehydrogenation of heavy paraffins over Pt-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst. The model included appropriate kinetic rate expressions for the main dehydrogenation reaction as well as side reactions and catalyst deactivation. The reactor model consisted of a set of partial and ordinary as well as algebraic equations that were solved numerically to determine the concentration of various species along the radius of the bed as a function of time. The Nelder-Mead optimization method was used to obtain the optimum kinetic parameters. The validity of the model was demonstrated by comparing the predicted paraffin conversion and product distributions with experimental values reported in the literature.