Simulation and optimization of an existing ethylbenzene dehydrogenation reactor

Abstract The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene in an ideal, adiabatic reactor has been modelled using side reactions in addition to the main one. The differential equations describing the process were integrated on an IBM 7040 digital computer. A profit function ($ gained/hour) was chosen and for various combinations of process variables, which were subject to constraints, the single bed reactor was optimized by the method of Rosenbrock (1,2) . Studies of a proposed two‐bed reactor were also carried out. Catalyst deactivation during the reaction was not considered because of a lack of data. The results showed that the existing reactor could be operated more efficiently if the present plant constraints were removed. Two beds in series gave still better results.