Purge gas streams to stagnant zones within oxygenate-to-olefin reactor

• Main Authors: MYERS, DANIEL N, PALMAS, PAOLO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.04.2012
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

The present invention comprises a process for conversion of oxygenates to olefins comprising contacting within a reactor (2) the oxygenates with a catalyst to produce light olefins and wherein the reactor comprises at least two zones, a first zone wherein gas circulates at a faster rate than a second zone wherein a gas circulates at a slower rate; and inserting a quantity of inert gas into the second zone to increase circulation of any materials located in said second zone. The invention prevents accumulation of undesirable by-products within stagnant zones within the reactor and reduces the amount of coke deposited on catalyst or on surfaces within these zones.