(382d) Analysis of Key Metrics in the Use of Oxidative Dehydrogenation for the Production of Ethylene from Shale Gas Ethane

The world-wide market for primary light olefins will approach half a trillion pounds per year by the year 2020. Light olefins are conventionally produced in the US by the steam cracking of hydrocarbons from ethane to gas oil. With the abundance of shale gas components, the feedstock of choice in the US is ethane. The reaction technology is decades old and results in a wide range of byproducts, some valuable, some with fuel value, and some requiring waste treatment before disposal. A techno-economic analysis was performed using reaction data provided by the DOE-INL for Oxidative Dehydrogenation (ODH) and modeling the entire expected processing using ASPEN-HYSYS V. 9.0. A set of performance metrics and a cost of production procedure commonly called a required netback analysis were used to compare this intensified ODH process with conventional steam pyrolysis technology. The new ODH route uses a mixed metal oxide catalyst in packed tubes with a heat transfer fluid in the reactor shell for heat management. Results indicate that the new route has much lower variable cost, fixed costs and capital recovery reaching shutdown economic level. Regarding the 20+ metrics developed, the ODH route shows significant advantages and integrates well with certain novel separations technology currently in the pipeline.