Integrated Reactor-Combustor Recycling System for Safe Operation by Catalytic Removal of Excess O-2

A reactor-combustor recycling system is proposed for safe operation of a hydrocarbon- and O-2-rich reactor by catalytically combusting excess O-2 and recycling generated CO2 for dilution. The Pt/Al2O3 catalysts are determined as active and stable, and the Mars van Krevelen mechanism is applied for the combustion kinetics. Modeling and simulation of the system involving reactor, heater, combustor, valve, and cooler are performed, where multitubular, monolith, and microstructured reactors are compared for addressing the strong exothermic combustion. The system is highly promising because 99.9 % O-2 can be consumed and explosion risk be eliminated via CO2 dilution. The microstructured combustor exhibits the highest potential by considering heat management, pressure drop, and compactness.