Operating Behavior of a Demonstration Plant for Methanol Synthesis

A demonstration plant designed for methanol synthesis with steel mill gases was operated continuously for the first time over a period of 5 weeks. The reactor represents a single tube with typical dimensions of an industrial tube bundle reactor with a boiling water cooling jacket and is incorporated into a full loop of unreacted gases. Temperature profile along reactor axis and gas composition in gas recycle stream are measured online. In several experiments, the operating range of the plant was determined. Additionally, the reactor and the loop were simulated and the results agree well with experimental values. A demonstration plant with industrial setup regarding length, diameter, boiling water cooling system, and gas recycle was initially operated to identify the operating range. The reactor was simulated in detail in combination with the other plant equipment and simulation results agreed well with measured values.