SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF A METHANOL SYNTHESIS PLANT CONSIDERING THE EFFECT OF CATALYST DEACTIVATION

• Published in: Bulletin of Romanian Chemical Engineering Society Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 58 - 76
• Main Authors: Bîldea, Georgiana-Cristina, Bozga, Grigore
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bucharest Matrix Rom 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Deactivation; Impact analysis; Methanol; Optimization; Simulation; Studies; Synthesis gas
• ISSN: 2360-4697

[...]the average hourly profit is calculated for different values of operation time between two catalyst replacements and the optimal operation time is calculated. The minimization is subject to the constrains showed in equation (26), namely a production rate F· = 600 kmol/h of methanol, a constant superficial velocity of the mixture inside the reactor of 0.5 m/s, and the mass, energy, and momentum balance of the units involved in the reaction loop. [...]the optimization problem is formulated as follows: ... (38) The dimensionless form proves that the mass balance equation can be simplified and solved independently from the catalyst deactivation model. [...]the algorithm of solving the deactivation model starts with initial activity a(x,0) / a0 = 1. [...]the behaviour of the reactor when the catalyst is deactivating can be obtained by using the steady state model of the PRF (a dynamic model is not needed).