Theoretical Investigation of Replacement of Membrane in Methanol Synthesis Reactor

In this study application of palladium-based membranes in methanol synthesis reactor was investigated theoretically. A new reactor structure with perm-selective Pd-Ag has been suggested. In this model, the synthesis gas flow passes reaction side and reacts to product, then is compressed to higher pressure in tube side and gets out. The perm-selective layer of palladium allows hydrogen in tube side to penetrate to the reaction side. Permeated hydrogen in reaction side maintains a proper hydrogen level along the reactor and increases outlet methanol mole fraction. In this work the results of two novel synthesis membrane reactors were compared with conventional methanol synthesis reactor under same process conditions. Also the effects of key parameters on reactor outlets mole fraction such as membrane thickness, reaction side pressure and tube side pressure were investigated.

کلیدواژه ها:

Membrane reactor ، Pd-based membrane ، Methanol synthesis ، Hydrogen permeation