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- Explosion (3)
- Explosion regime (3)
- Micro reactor (3)
- Safety (3)
- O-xylene oxidation (2)
- Partial oxidation (2)
- Phthalic anhydride (2)
- Catalysis (1)
- Catalyst (1)
- Chemical safety (1)
Der vorliegende Beitrag behandelt spezifische Aspekte der Sicherheitstechnik bei heterogen katalysierten Oxidationsreaktionen. Ergebnisse von Explosionsuntersuchungen an Ethen-Sauerstoffgemischen in einem kontinuierlich betriebenen Mikroreaktor, die beispielsweise für den Ethylenoxidprozess relevant sind, werden vorgestellt. Der Anfangsdruck der untersuchten Eduktgemische lag zwischen 1000 hPa und 10000 hPa bei Anfangstemperaturen zwischen Umgebungstemperatur und einer Temperatur bis zu 673 K. Mikrostrukturierte Reaktoren bieten einen erweiterten Bereich von Betriebsbedingungen. Die Untersuchungen zielen auf den sicheren Betrieb eines Mikroreaktors bei Bedingungen, die bei konventionellen Reaktoren als innerhalb des Explosionsbereichs eingestuft werden, ab. In bestimmten Grenzen kann eine Unterdrückung von Explosionen in einem Mikroreaktor erreicht werden. Es ist jedoch nicht möglich, einen Mikroreaktor unter allen Bedingungen sicher zu betreiben. Aus diesen Gründen wurde die Explosionsausbreitung durch einen mikrostrukturierten Reaktor hindurch und die Zündung einer Gasphasenexplosion durch Hot-Spots in dem Reaktor untersucht. Die angewandten Untersuchungsmethoden sind Gegenstand aktueller Normungsaktivitäten.
The selective gas phase oxidation of o-xylene was investigated inside of the explosion regime using a microstructured reactor. The V2O5/TiO2 catalyst was used as microfixed bed and as catalyst coating. There were no significant losses of the selectivity to phthalic anhydride with feed compositions up to 7 vol % o-xylene observable. Above 7 vol % the selectivity decreased due to total oxidation, especially for the microfixed bed, which was probably caused by a hotspot.
Investigations on primary, secondary and tertiary explosion protection have been performed for micro reactors with slit-like channels which are coated with catalyst. Ethene/oxygen mixtures have been used as model gas mixtures representing explosion group IIB (DIN EN ISO 16852). It could be shown that the explosion regime can be significantly reduced when using micro reactors (primary explosion protection). Furthermore, safe Operation inside the explosion regime is possible with micro reactors (secondary explosion protection), but, at certain conditions thermal runaway and ignition of detonations are possible. An unexpected behaviour has been found, because thermal runaway occurred when Volumetrie flow rate was increased. This behaviour is completely opposite to that of multi tube fixed bed reactors which show an increase of safety when increasing volumetric flow rate. Micro reactors can be constructed pressure-resistant even when detonations occur inside (tertiary explosion protection). For the example of o-xylene oxidation it could be shown that space time yield can be increased significantly when entering explosion regime.
The present issue reports on a specific aspect of safety engineering of the heterogeneously catalysed oxidation of ethene in a continuous-flow microreactor. Conversion of ethene and the corresponding surface temperature of the catalyst were monitored for different reactor temperatures and total flow rates with a stoichiometric ethene/oxygen mixture for total oxidation. Safe operation of the highly exothermic oxidation was possible, but not in the whole parameter range. At high reactor temperatures and flow rates, ignition of an explosion inside the microreactor caused by a hot spot on the surface of the catalyst was observed for the first time.
Es wird eine Methode zur sicherheitstechnischen Untersuchung von Mikroreaktoren und mikrostrukturierten Komponenten, die im Explosionsbereich betrieben werden sollen, vorgestellt. Mikrostrukturierte Reaktoren sind nicht inhärent sicher, wenngleich der Bereich der sicheren Betriebsbedingungen gegenüber konventionellen Reaktoren erweitert ist. Der Explosionsbereich kann durch die Mikrostrukturen eingeengt werden. Am Beispiel von Ethylen/Sauerstoff-Gemischen und Ethylen/N2O-Gemischen wird hinsichtlich der Ausbreitung von Detonationen durch Kapillarrohre gezeigt, dass die sogenannte λ/3-Regel angewandt werden kann. Darüber hinaus werden erste Ergebnisse der Untersuchung der Ausbreitung von Explosionen durch einen Mikroreaktor mit rechteckigem Strömungskanal vorgestellt.
The heterogeneously catalyzed selective gas phase oxidation of o-xylene was investigated, using a
microstructured fixed bed reactor, inside of the explosion regime. The reaction was carried out with high
amounts of o-xylene in air and stoichiometric with oxygen using a V2O5/TiO2-catalyst prepared through
grafting. There were no significant losses in the selectivity to phthalic anhydride observable, during the
measurements in the explosion regime, with feed compositions of up to 7 vol% o-xylene. Also the
space-time yield was up to 2.3 times higher in comparison to conventional reaction conditions. An
increase of the selectivity to total oxidation products was observed at higher o-xylene concentrations
between 10 and 25 vol% o-xylene, which possibly was caused by the formation of a hotspot. The
investigation of the used catalyst revealed a thermally induced deactivation due to phase transition of
anatase into rutil and formation of crystalline vanadium oxide. Despite that expected hotspot at high oxylene
concentrations, there was no ignition or explosion of the gas mixture observable.
A method for the determination of safety properties for micro reactors and micro structured components is presented.
Micro structured reactors are not inherently safe but the range of safe operating conditions of micro reactors are
extended since the explosion region is reduced. The λ/3 rule was demonstrated to be applicable to micro scale
tubes for stoichiometric mixtures of ethane–oxygen and ethane–nitrous oxide. Furthermore first results from an investigation concerning detonation propagation through a micro reactor of non-ideal geometry are shown. Initial
pressure investigated is ranging from low pressure up to 100 kPa.
The present contribution reports on specific aspects of safety engineering in heterogeneously catalysed oxidation reactions. Results for ethene-oxygen-mixtures in a continuous-flow micro reactor are reported related to the safety issues of the ethylene oxide process. Initial pressure is ranging from below 1 bar up to 10 bar at initial temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 673 K. Micro structured reactors offer an extended range of operating conditions. The key issue to be discussed in the present contribution is how to safely operate a micro reactor at conditions in conventional devices to be characterised as inside the explosion region. Within certain limits suppression of explosion inside a micro reactor can be achieved.
This holds true for chain reactions as well as runaway reactions. Nevertheless it is not possible to safely operate micro structured reactors at any condition. Therefore, explosion propagation through a Micro structured reactor and initiation of gas phase explosions by hot spots inside the reactor were investigated.
The investigation methods applied are subject to actual standardization.