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Production of Hydrogen, Methanol and Benzene Simultaneously in an Industrial Scale Reactor by Considering Effect of Flow Type Regimes

  • Research Article - Chemical Engineering
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Abstract

In this study, exothermic reaction of methanol synthesis is coupled with endothermic reaction of dehydrogenation of cyclohexane in a two-packed bed reactor in order to simultaneous production of hydrogen, methanol and benzene. Steady-state, heterogeneous model predicts the performance of this configuration. The simulation results for co-current and counter-current modes in thermally coupled methanol reactor (TCMR) are investigated and compared with data of an industrial scale conventional methanol reactor (CMR) with same feed conditions. In addition, the variation of different operating parameters along the reactor has been considered. The simulation results represent 1.89 % enhancements in methanol recovery yield of co-current mode in TCMR in comparison with CMR. Also, results show that hydrogen recovery yield in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane side in co-current and counter-current modes of TCMR is equal to 2.352 and 2.255, respectively. Finally, TCMR in co-current mode is a feasible reactor for cost reduction because it has benefits such as production of multiple products, enhancement of productivity by shifting equilibrium of reactions to forward, large savings in the operational and capital costs, compact and efficient process.

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Abbreviations

a ν :

Specific surface area of catalyst pellet (m2 m−3)

A c :

Cross section area (m2)

A i :

Inside area of inner tube (m2)

A o :

Outside area of inner tube (m2)

C p :

Specific heat of the gas at constant pressure (J mol−1)

C i :

Concentration of component i (mol/m3)

d p :

Particle diameter (m)

f i :

Partial fugacity of component i (bar)

F t :

Total molar flow rate (mol s−1)

G :

Superficial velocity (kg m−2 s−1)

h i :

Gas–solid heat transfer coefficient (Wm−2 K−1)

h o :

Heat transfer coefficient between fluid phase and reactor wall in endothermic side (Wm−2 K−1)

ΔH f,i :

Enthalpy of formation of component i (J mol−1)

k 1 :

Rate constant for the first rate equation of methanol synthesis reaction (mol kg−1 s−1 bar−1/2)

k 2 :

Rate constant for the second rate equation of methanol synthesis reaction (mol kg−1 s−1 bar−1/2)

k 3 :

Rate constant for the third rate equation of methanol synthesis reaction (mol kg−1 s−1 bar−1/2)

K :

Conductivity of fluid phase (Wm−1 K −1)

K i :

Adsorption equilibrium constant for component i in methanol synthesis reaction (bar−1)

K pi :

Equilibrium constant based on partial pressure for component i in methanol synthesis reaction

K w :

Thermal conductivity of reactor wall (Wm−1 K−1)

M i :

Molecular weight of component i (g mol−1)

P :

Total pressure (bar)

Q :

Volumetric flow rate (m3 s−1)

r 1 :

Rate of reaction for hydrogenation of CO (mol kg−1 s−1)

r 2 :

Rate of reaction for hydrogenation of CO2 (mol kg−1 s−1)

r 3 :

Rate of reversed water–gas shift reaction (mol kg−1 s−1)

R :

Radius of reactor (m)

t :

Time (s)

T :

Temperature (K)

z :

Axial reactor coordinate (m)

μ :

Viscosity of fluid phase (kg m−1 s−1)

ρ :

Density of the fluid phase (kg m−3)

ρ b :

Density of catalytic bed (kg m−3)

ɛ :

porosity

φ s :

Sphericity

g:

In bulk gas phase

s:

In solid phase

ss:

Steady-state conditions

0:

Inlet conditions

i :

Chemical species

j :

Reactor side

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, 71555-313, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehdi Farniaei

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Persian Gulf University, 75169, Bushehr, Iran

    Mohsen Abbasi

  3. Chemical Engineering Department, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University, 71345, Shiraz, Iran

    Sedigheh Kabiri

Authors
  1. Mehdi Farniaei
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  2. Mohsen Abbasi
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  3. Sedigheh Kabiri
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Correspondence to Mohsen Abbasi.

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Farniaei, M., Abbasi, M. & Kabiri, S. Production of Hydrogen, Methanol and Benzene Simultaneously in an Industrial Scale Reactor by Considering Effect of Flow Type Regimes. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 8477–8489 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1435-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1435-6

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