An efficient technique for improving methanol yield using dual CO<sub>2</sub> feeds and dry methane reforming

doi:10.1007/s11705-019-1849-5

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (4) : 614-628 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1849-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

An efficient technique for improving methanol yield using dual CO₂ feeds and dry methane reforming

Yang Su¹, Liping Lü², Weifeng Shen¹(

), Shun’an Wei¹

¹. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
². School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing 408100, China

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Abstract

Steam methane reforming (SMR)-based methanol synthesis plants utilizing a single CO₂ feed represent one of the predominant technologies for improving methanol yield and CO₂ utilization. However, SMR alone cannot achieve full CO₂ utilization, and a high water content accumulates if CO₂ is only fed into the methanol reactor. In this study, a process integrating SMR with dry methane reforming to improve the conversion of both methane and CO₂ is proposed. We also propose an innovative methanol production approach in which captured CO₂ is introduced into both the SMR process and the recycle gas of the methanol synthesis loop. This dual CO₂ feed approach aims to optimize the stoichiometric ratio of the reactants. Comparative evaluations are carried out from a techno-economic point of view, and the proposed process is demonstrated to be more efficient in terms of both methanol productivity and CO₂ utilization than the existing stand-alone natural gas-based methanol process.

Keywords methanol synthesis CO₂ utilization dry methane reforming steam methane reforming process design

Corresponding Author(s): Weifeng Shen

Online First Date: 05 December 2019 Issue Date: 22 May 2020

Cite this article:

Yang Su,Liping Lü,Weifeng Shen, et al. An efficient technique for improving methanol yield using dual CO₂ feeds and dry methane reforming[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(4): 614-628.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-019-1849-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2020/V14/I4/614

Fig.1 Schematic of the various methanol production methods.

Fig.2 Block flow diagram of the proposed process.

Fig.3 Effect of the CO₂/CH₄ molar ratio on the stoichiometric number M.

Tab.1 Characteristics of the Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst

$k = A exp (B R T)$	A	B
$k 1$	?29.87	4811.2
$k 2$	8.147	0
$k 3$	?6.452	2068.4
$k 4$	?34.95	14928.9
$k 5$	4804	?11797.5
$k 6$	17.55	?2249.8
$k 7$	0.1310	?7023.5

Tab.2 Parameters of the kinetic model, rearranged for input in the process simulator

Fig.4 Schematic of the conventional methanol production process using stand-alone SMR and a single CO₂ feed.

Fig.5 Schematic of the proposed methanol production process, in which SMR and DMR are integrated and dual CO₂ feeds are employed.

Tab.3 Mass balance of the components entering and exiting the system.

Fig.6 Comparison of the production efficiency of the proposed process and reference process.

Fig.7 Exergy flow diagram of the proposed process.

Fig.8 Exergy flow diagram of the reference process.

Fig.9 Distribution of the output exergy of the proposed and reference processes.

Fig.10 Economic comparison of the proposed process and reference process.

Fig.11 Comparison of the environmental impact of the proposed process and reference process.

Fig.12 Effect of the supplementary CO₂ feed flowrates on (a) the M value of the fresh syngas, (b) methanol production, (c) total carbon efficiency, and (d) net CO₂ consumption at different recycle ratios.

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