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Methanol synthesis in a multifunctional reactor

par Ben Amor, Hatem ;Halloin, Véronique
Référence Chemical engineering science, 54, 10, page (1419-1423)
Publication Publié, 1999-05

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

Catalytic methanol synthesis from syngas is conducted in a multifunctional reactor. The reactor consists in an annular catalyst layer surrounded by a wound copper tube acting as a condenser. The condensed products are separated in-situ from the reacting medium through a hydraulic seal, in order to drive the equilibrium composition towards the product. A first set of experiments were carried out on a small laboratory prototype at pressures between 35 and 50 bar, and with a maximum temperature in the catalyst layer of 240 °C. Conversions up to 80% in CO and of 84% in H2 were reached. A comparison is made between the present performances of this multifunctional reactor and the current performances of a conventional reactor. In its present state of development, spatial velocity are several orders of magnitude lower than in conventional designs, but the much lower recycle ratio enabled by our device could result in reduction of the power requirement for the recycle gas compressor as well as in reduction of the size of the equipment in the loop. Operating parameters such as pressure, inlet composition, and space velocity are being investigated in order to improve these performances, in particular to reduce the recycle ratio.