TITLE: Liquid phase methanol LaPorte process development unit: Modification, operation, and support studies. Quarterly technical progress report No. 12, 1 April-30 June 1990.

INST.  AUTHOR: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA;   Chem Systems, Inc., Tarrytown, NY.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  23 Oct 90,  51p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE91007397INW

ABSTRACT:

The objectives of this program are to implement and test the process improvements identified through the engineering studies of the current program to demonstrate the capability of long-term catalyst activity maintenance, and to perform process and design engineering work that can be applied to a scaled-up Liquid Phase Methanol (LPMEOH) facility. An optional series of PDU runs is offered to extend the testing of the process improvements. A parallel research program will be performed to enhance the LPMEOH technical data base to improve the likelihood of commercialization of the LPMEOH process. Activities this quarter include: Flow sheet development for La Porte PDU modifications continues. A preliminary P&ID review was completed and flow sheet modifications were identified and are being incorporated. A preliminary hazards review was completed on 22 May. Some minor flow sheet modifications resulted and a number of action items were identified. The most significant action item is to develop a materials reactivity and compatibility grid for the different alcohols, ethers, and esters which will be produced at the PDU.  Heat and material balances were completed for the maximum production case of the mixed DME/MEOH synthesis campaign. An improved rate expression was developed. 1 fig.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/90005-T33;   DOE/PC/89865-T1

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-87PC90005