Propane conversion in a chemical compression reactor

The noncatalytic conversion of propane mixtures with air into synthesis gas in a chemical “super-adiabatic” compression reactor with cyclic action based on an internal combustion engine was studied by numerical simulation. The conversion process was analyzed for a chemical reactor with two-stage compression and internal heat regeneration. It was shown that an almost 100% conversion of propane into synthesis gas can be performed in a two-stage compression reactor at the initial propane content in a mixture up to 12.3% and compression pressure ∼90 atm (compression degree ∼20), which is unrealistic with usual one-stage compression. Useful mechanical energy can be produced when the reactor works. In a chemical compression reactor with heat regeneration, almost 100% propane conversion into synthesis gas can be performed at the initial propane content in a mixture up to 11% and compression pressure ∼200 atm (compression degree ∼20). The process does not require mechanical energy expenditures at a propane concentration in the initial mixture lower than 10%.