Abstract
The concept of circulating fast fluidization with in-situ water removal using zeolite-4A particles is introduced to the methanol synthesis process. The mathematical model of a circulating fast fluidized bed reactor (CFFBR) is validated by an actual industrial plant data. Also, the industrial plant feed data is used to test the performance of a bubbling fluidized bed reactor (FBR). The CFFBR with varying adsorbent compositions is investigated. The system exhibits optimum conditions at a low feed temperature of 201.75 degrees C due to water removal and thermodynamic equilibrium shift. The methanol production has substantially increased about 14-folds. The increase of the adsorbent mass concentration > 50.0% has a little effect on the maxima due to the total conversion of carbon. It is interesting to note that feeds rich in CO2 and lean in CO are susceptible to a significant improvement of methanol production. The sensitivity analysis shows that the increase of H-2 in the feed decreases CO formation and consequently increases the carbon conversion to methanol. Moreover, the pressure is more effective at low ranges due to a high carbon conversion. The high efficiency shown by the CFFBR in this study suggests a promising application of these reactor generations in the methanol industry.