Pyrolysis of propane in a shock tube

Abstract

AbstractThe pyrolysis of propane has been studied over the temperature range 830° to 1180°C. with a single‐pulse shock tube employed to effect rapid heating and quenching. Both the uncatalyzed decomposition and the decomposition catalyzed by hydrogen sulfide were studied. First‐order rate constants for the uncatalyzed reaction are in excellent agreement with published data obtained in nonisothermal, tubular reactors. The product distribution differs from that obtained in other studies. It is characterized by decomposition of propane via two routes at roughly equal rates, one route leading to propylene and hydrogen, the other to ethylene and methane or ethane. Propylene subsequently is converted, almost stoichiometrically, to ethylene and acetylene. Hydrogen sulfide accelerates the initial decomposition of propane, thus maintaining high propylene selectivity to high propane conversion. A free radical mechanism is used to explain the gross features of the pyrolysis.