TITLE: Novel reactor configuration for synthesis gas conversion to alcohols. Final report.

AUTHOR: A. Akgerman;   R. G. Anthony.

INST.  AUTHOR: Texas A and M Univ., College Station. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  1993,  198p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE93018361INW

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this research was to develop a new, efficient reactor and process for the synthesis of methanol from hydrogen lean synthesis gas. Preliminary work in our laboratories had shown that use of a trickle bed reactor with a mineral oil flowing concurrently with the gas feed was significantly more efficient than existing gas phase fixed bed reactors and liquid phase slurry reactors. In this project we have (a) determined the kinetics of methanol synthesis reaction in a perfectly mixed flow reactor; (b) studied methanol synthesis in a trickle bed reactor and determined the effects of temperature, space velocity, synthesis gas/mineral oil feed ratio, and H(sub 2)/CO/CO(sub 2) ratio on conversion and product distribution; (c) developed the design equations necessary to model the process; (d) simulated the laboratory trickle bed reactor to prove the model; (e) performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the parameters that affect pilot size reactor design; (f) extended the design to a pilot size unit and compared the performance to that of a slurry reactor.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/89787-T6

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-89PC89787