Development of Laboratory Reactor for Determination of Coke Formation during Pyrolysis of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The development and testing of a new laboratory reactor, enabling the study of the coke formation, its morphology and changes in material composition during hydrocarbon pyrolysis are presented. The apparatus allows one to measure the coke deposition for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon feedstocks on plates made of various materials, suspended in the steel reactor. Formation of an inert layer of SiO₂ on the inner wall of the reactor suppressing the catalytic effect of the reactor on the course of pyrolysis reactions was studied. Chemical vapor deposition and sol‑gel coating method have been tested. In the former case, a non-uniform powder porous layer was formed on the reactor wall, whereas the latter method yielded a cracked film. Due to gradual falling of the created SiO₂ layer, pre-coking of the reactor walls, forming thin protective carbon layer before each set of experiments, was finally chosen. Accuracy of coke formation measurements was verified through pyrolysis of naphtha.