TITLE: Liquid phase methanol LaPorte process development unit: Modification, operation, and support studies. Quarterly technical progress report No. 9, July 1-September 30, 1989.

AUTHOR: D. M. Brown;   M. E. Frank.

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],  18 Jun 90,  45p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE90016749INW

ABSTRACT:

Contract objectives are to perform process and design engineering work that can be applied to a scaled-up Liquid Phase Methanol (LPMEOH*) facility. An optional series of runs on the Process Development Unit (PDU) is offered to extend the testing of the process improvements. This quarter a four-parameter, mathematical model based on a dual-site Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism was used by PSG Researchers to successfully describe LPMEOH reaction kinetics with BASF S3-85 catalyst. Methanol synthesis catalyst is susceptible to poisoning by trace contaminants (eg. H(sub 2)S, COS, iron carbonyl) present in coal-derived synthesis gas. A guard-bed adsorption system developed by PSG Research to treat feed gas to a LPMEOH reactor was successfully tested in the final phase of the Iron Run laboratory program. The first series of coal gas clean-up experiments at the Great Plains Synfuels plant site were completed. Catalyst activity experienced persistent decline. Two scenarios were identified as the most likely reasons for the deactivation. 12 figs., 5 tabs.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/90005-T21

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-87PC90005