Steam Cracking of Naphtha in a Novel Reactor

Because using of packed bed reactors in commercial scale has pressure drop limitation, a novel reactor consisting of a coil with ceramic tube or rod inside the coil was investigated for steam cracking of naphtha. Steam cracking of naphtha in a laboratory-scale reactor has been compared with steam cracking in a packed bed reactor and with an empty tube. The yields of light products of steam cracking of naphtha have been increased through a tube with ceramic packing, ceramic tube or ceramic rod in comparison with steam cracking of naphtha through an empty tube. Maximum yield of ethylene is achieved through the reactor consisting of a ceramic tube or rod in diameter of 12.3 mm. The results of steam cracking with a reacotr containing a ceramic rod or tube are in similar range as the results in packed bed reactor.

Keywords:

Steam Cracking , Ceramic rod , Naphtha , Olefin , Ethylene