SOLAR ENERGY BASED COUNTINUOUS PROCESS AND REACTOR SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ALKENE BY DEHYDROGENATION OF THE CORRESPONDING ALKANE

摘要

The invention relates to a solar energy based continuous process and reactor system for the production of an alkene by dehydrogenation of the corresponding alkane wherein the process is performed in a reactor which process comprises the steps of alternatingly performing a first mode and a second mode in the same reactor, wherein the first mode is a non-oxidative dehydrogenation wherein the non-oxidative dehydrogenation is performed by contacting the alkane with a suitable dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of at least 500°C to produce the corresponding alkene and hydrogen and wherein the second mode is an oxidative dehydrogenation wherein the oxidative dehydrogenation is performed by contacting the alkane with a suitable dehydrogenation catalyst and an oxidation agent at a temperature from 300 to 500°C to produce the corresponding alkene wherein the dehydrogenation catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation and the non-oxidative dehydrogenation are the same, wherein preferably the heat for the first mode is provided by a solar energy source and wherein heat for the second mode is provided by the corresponding alkene produced in the second mode, wherein heat for the first mode is provided by a solar energy source.