Reverse flow reactors having low maldistribution parameter while containing asymmetric feeds, methods of using same, and pyrolysis products made from same

A method of transforming a hydrocarbon feed into a pyrolysed product in a reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatus exhibiting an asymmetric heating feed profile and a low maldistribution parameter, the method comprising:

• providing an RFR apparatus comprising an RFR body, a reaction zone located within the RFR body, at least two oxygen-containing feeds, a combustion fuel feed, a purge feed, and a pyrolysis feed which comprises hydrocarbon, at least 60 mol % of which comprise C2+ hydrocarbon compounds, wherein (i) the reaction zone has a central vertical axis and is flanked by first and second void spaces and (ii) the reaction zone includes at least one bed having the form of a monolith having a plurality of discrete passages extending axially therethrough;
• operating the RFR apparatus to cycle between an exothermic heating mode, a purge mode, and an endothermic pyrolysis mode so as to attain substantially hydrocarbon pyrolysis products;
• in the heating mode, heating the reaction zone to a temperature of at least 700° C. by reacting the combustion fuel feed with the oxygen-containing feeds while maintaining a pressure drop across the reaction zone of about 15 psig or less;
• in the purge mode, purging oxygen from the reaction zone using less than 6 bed volumes of the purge feed and under conditions sufficient to maintain a pressure drop across the reaction zone of about 5 psig or less;
• and
• in the pyrolysis mode, exposing the hydrocarbons in the pyrolysis feed to a temperature and flow conditions and for a time sufficient to pyrolyse the hydrocarbons to form the pyrolysis products, while maintaining a pressure drop across the reaction zone of 10 psig or less,
• wherein the heating mode is operated under conditions such that the maldistribution parameter is at 5% or less, and such that a ratio of the pressure drop across the reaction zone to an average axial kinetic energy density of the feeds within the first and second void spaces is at least 10.