A SIMULATION STUDY OF AN INDUSTRIAL METHANOL REACTOR BASED ON SIMPLIFIED STEADY-STATE MODEL

Methanol is recognized as a potential renewable energy source for its uses in gasoline blending and direct methanol fuel cells. This work aims to develop a simulation model that can adequately represent and industrial real-life methanol reactor from a petrochemical plant at steady-state conditions. The main purpose is to provide a tool for investigating the effects of inlet temperatures, coolant inlet temperatures and velocity on the reactor’s performance under steady-state conditions. From the results obtained, it is revealed that the simplified model is able to approximate the plant’s operating conditions with sufficient accuracy of less than 5% error. The validated model allows a better temperatures, feed superficial velocities and coolant inlet temperatures. T his model can serve as a base for future improvement studies on the said reactor.