Comparison between Axial-Radial plate reactor and shell and tubes reactor for methanol synthesis

In the axial-radial rector (AR), plates are substituted for tubes of shell and tube reactors in order to increase heat transfer surface area, and thereby provide better heat transfer between the catalyst bed and the saturated steam flowed in plates as the coolant. In addition, due to the fact that the methanol synthesis reaction is an equilibrium reaction, using both radial and axial flows leads to even distribution of fresh syngas (feed gas) over the catalyst bed, meaning that all the contact area of the catalyst is properly utilized for methanol production. Thus, optimization of axial-radial flow reactor (OAR) has been carried out in this study in order to maximize methanol production. Moreover, performance of AR is compared with three different types of axial reactors which is named CR, PR and MCR. Results show that the OAR reactor has superiority over other reactor types from all essential aspects. Actually, the OAR pressure drop is approximately ۱/۶ of axial flow reactors and additionally it can boost methanol production up to ۲۰ % in relation to CR reactors.

Keywords:

axial-radial flow , methanol production , tubular reactor , plate reactors , optimization