In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a process for dehydrogenating a first dehydrogenation reactant into its unsaturated counterparts. The disclosed process comprises introducing a dehydrogenation reactant to a metal oxide catalyst having dehydrogenation activity, and dehydrogenating the dehydrogenation reactant to provide its unsaturated counterpart and hydrogen; selectively combusting the hydrogen released during dehydrogenation using a lattice oxygen from the metal oxide catalyst, resulting in a reduced metal oxide catalyst and steam; re-oxidizing the reduced metal oxide catalyst by introducing a gaseous oxidant to the reduced metal oxide catalyst; and optionally re-using the re-oxidized metal oxide catalyst for catalytic conversion and combustion. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a process for dehydrogenating a first dehydrogenation reactant into its unsaturated counterparts. The disclosed process comprises introducing a dehydrogenation reactant to a metal oxide catalyst having dehydrogenation activity, and dehydrogenating the dehydrogenation reactant to provide its unsaturated counterpart and hydrogen; selectively combusting the hydrogen released during dehydrogenation using a lattice oxygen from the metal oxide catalyst, resulting in a reduced metal oxide catalyst and steam; re-oxidizing the reduced metal oxide catalyst by introducing a gaseous oxidant to the reduced metal oxide catalyst; and optionally re-using the re-oxidized metal oxide catalyst for catalytic conversion and combustion. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a reactant gas may be converted by a method comprising introducing the reactant gas to a fluidized bed reactor. The main reactor vessel of the fluidized bed reactor may be tapered such that the upstream portion of the main reactor vessel comprises a lesser cross-sectional area than the downstream portion of the main reactor vessel.

According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a reactant gas may be converted by a method comprising introducing the reactant gas to a fluidized bed reactor. The main reactor vessel of the fluidized bed reactor may be tapered such that the upstream portion of the main reactor vessel comprises a lesser cross-sectional area than the downstream portion of the main reactor vessel.

A multi-stage dehydrogenation process including contacting, in a first stage, a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon and steam with a dehydrogenation catalyst under dehydrogenation conditions to yield a first stage effluent, heating the first stage effluent, and contacting, in a second stage, the heated first stage effluent with a dehydrogenation catalyst under dehydrogenation conditions to yield a second stage effluent comprising a dehydrogenation product, wherein the first stage includes a first reactor and a second reactor arranged in parallel, and wherein the second stage includes a third reactor connected in series with the first reactor and the second reactor. A multi-stage dehydrogenation system for carrying out dehydrogenation is also provided.