4. Conclusions
The highly exothermic process characteristics of catalytic reactors are investigated with integral heat exchange structures. Ethane mole fraction and gas-phase reaction rate profiles in catalytic reactors are presented for a catalytic reactor with an integral heat exchange structure, and ethane mole fraction, flow velocity, gas-phase reaction rate, and temperature contour plots are illustrated for catalytically supported thermal combustion systems. The present study aims to provide an improved reaction system and process for combustion of a fuel wherein catalytic combustion using a catalyst structure employing integral heat exchange affords a partially-combusted, gaseous product which is passed to a homogeneous combustion zone where complete combustion is promoted by means of a flame holder. Particular emphasis is placed upon the catalytic reactor configuration that allows the oxidation catalyst to be backside cooled by any fluid passing through the cooling conduits. The major conclusions are summarized as follows: