THIN BED REACTORS FOR METHANE CONVERSION

摘要

Methane is converted to higher hydrocarbons by reaction with a gaseous oxidant under adiabatic conditions in a thin bed reactor, the feed being supplied to the reactor at a temperature of at least 100 DEG C below reaction temperature and being heated to reaction temperature by conductive flow of heat generated by the reaction axially through the bed countercurrent to feed flow. A suitable reactor has a preheat zone and a reaction zone with axial flow of reaction heat from the reaction zone to the preheat zone.