The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) is still in its infancy stage of development. Compared to great emphases on the catalyst selection and design, the reactor type and operation for the ODHP are paid much less attention. In this work, spouted bed reactors (SBR) without and with an internal draft tube are evaluated for the ODHP by using a 3D comprehensive model based on the multi-phase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) approach. The model is also used to study on the effects of operating parameters, including the static bed height, catalyst particle size, reaction temperature, and oxygen content at different gas inlets (i.e., bottom and lateral), on the propane conversion, propylene selectivity, and yield. Findings indicate that numerical predictions are in very good agreement with experimental data. The performances of the SBRs without and with a draft tube for the ODHP are different due to the various gas–solid hydrodynamics in the reactors. Higher propane conversion is observed in the SBR without draft tubes, while higher propylene selectivity can be obtained in the SBR with a draft tube. Under the static bed height of 0.30 m, the particle diameter of 1.0–1.2 mm, the reaction temperature of 500 °C, and the ratio of propane to oxygen of 1.0 and oxygen content of 1.0%, the propane conversion and propylene selectivity in the SBR with a draft tube reach 18.01 and 29.78%, respectively. It is believed that the SBR is appropriate for the ODHP and might assist to make the ODHP a feasible alternative route toward propylene production.

No abstract