Method for Carrying Out a Chemical Reaction and Reactor Arrangement

A reactor for carrying out a chemical reaction, comprising a reactor vessel, reaction tubes arranged in the reactor vessel, and means which are arranged for:

• supplying one or more reactants to the reaction tubes during one or more first operating modes in a first mass flow and not supplying the one or more reactants to the reaction tubes during one or more second operating modes or supplying the one or more reactants to the reaction tubes during the one or more second operating modes in a second mass flow, the second mass flow being lower, at least on a time-average basis, than the first mass flow,
• supplying radiant heat to the reaction tubes by means of one or more electric heating elements in the reactor vessel during the one or more first operation modes in a first heat flow and not supplying the radiant heat to the reaction tubes during the one or more second operating modes or supplying the radiant heat to the reaction tubes during the one or more second operating modes in a second heat flow, the second heat flow being lower, at least on a time-average basis, than the first heat flow;
• providing, in at least a part of the reactor vessel in which the one or more heating elements are provided, a gas atmosphere which is separated from the one or more reactants which are supplied to the reaction tubes by walls of the reaction tubes, and in which a content of oxygen is adjusted in a predetermined volume fraction:
• adjusting, during the one or more first modes of operation, the volume fraction of oxygen between a first limit value of no less than 500 ppm and a second limit value of no more than 10%;
• and
• setting, during the one or more second operating modes, the volume fraction of oxygen to a value that is higher, at least on a time-average basis, than during the one or more first operating modes.