An improved
dehydrogenation catalyst
bed system for olefin production utilizing classical
processing techniques is disclosed. The catalyst
bed system comprises a
dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an
active component selected from an
oxide of a
metal of Group 4 or Group 5 or Group 6 and combinations thereof and a support selected from aluminum
oxide, aluminas,
alumina monohydrate,
alumina trihydrate,
alumina-silica, transition aluminas, alpha-alumina, silica,
silicate, aluminates, calcined hydrotalcites, zeolites and combinations thereof mixed with a first
inert material selected from any material that is catalytically inactive when subjected to
reaction conditions that can effect
dehydrogenation of olefins and that has a
high density and
high heat capacity and that is not capable of producing heat during any stage of the dehydrogenation process, and the dehydrogenation catalyst plus the first
inert material then being physically mixed with a
secondary component comprising a heat-generating
inert material and a carrier capable of supporting the heat-generating inert material, wherein the
secondary component is catalytically inert with respect to dehydrogenation reactions or to
cracking or to coking and generates heat after being exposed to reducing and / or to oxidizing
reaction conditions.