Theoretical Modeling of a Novel Combination of Pd-Ag Membrane Reactor In Methanol Synthesis

Abstract:

In this work, a model for a novel cascade membrane methanol reactor (CMMR) was developed.  In this proposed reactor, the cold feed synthesis gas is fed to the tubes of the gas-cooled reactor and flowing in counter-current mode with reacting gas mixture in the shell side of this reactor. The outlet synthesis gas from this reactor is fed to tubes of the water-cooled packed bed reactor and flows in co-current mode with reacting gas mixture that enters in the shell side of the reactor. The wall of the tubes in the both of reactors is covered with a palladium-silver membrane so hydrogen can penetrate from the feed synthesis gas side into the reaction side. In the water cooled reactor the reacting gas is cooled simultaneously with synthesis gas in tube and saturated water in outer shell. Hydrogen permeation through the membrane shifts the reaction towards the product side according to the thermodynamic equilibrium. The simulation results represent a favorable profile of temperature and increasing in methanol production rate and higher carbon monoxide removal along the CMMR relative to dual-type methanol reactor.