Modelling of deep adsorptive desulphurization of methanol for fuel cell applications

These studies were carried out within the framework of the European FuelSOME Project (No. 101069828), which focuses on establishing a multi-fuel energy generation system based on utilization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and is dedicated mainly to the long-distance maritime shipping. For the SOFC stacks, the removal of sulphur contaminations from fuels is crucial as the content of sulphur compounds is strictly limited, even to dozens of mol ppb. The modelling and calculations were performed for a selected testing system of deep adsorptive purification of methanol to remove dibenzothiophene (DBT) on activated carbon (AC), where DBT was taken as a representative of compounds contaminating sulphur. An appropriate model of the adsorption column packed with activated carbon pellets was elaborated as a basis for process simulations and further techno-economic considerations. The research focused on modelling sulphur removal to achieve the required purity of methanol, then on cost analysis to optimize the proposed purification process. At the current stage, the aim of the performed studies was a preliminary check of a possibility of successfully performing deep adsorptive desulphurisation of methanol and an estimation of purification costs.