CFD Simulation of Industrial Methanol Reactor

In the present study, an industrial multi-tubular methanol reactor was simulated by the mixture model of the Ansys-Fluent 15 CFD code. Hydrodynamics and heat transfer in the shell side of the reactor was studied and the relevant results were presented. The reactor geometry allowed considering only one sixth of the entire volume, i.e. a 60 degrees cylindrical portion, based on its symmetry behavior and reduction in time consumption, with appropriate boundary conditions. We have simulated the identical geometry, which has been used in industrial methanol reactor of Kharg petrochemical complex. The phase distribution, temperature distribution, pressure drop and water circulation rate were predicted by the CFD model. The corresponding results were compared with the industrial data and good agreement was found.

Keywords:

Industrial Methanol Reactor , CFD , mixture model , heat transfer , boiling