Performance Study of a Thermally Double Coupled Multi-Tubular Reactor by Considering the Effect of Flow Type Patterns

Abstract

In this study, a steady-state heterogeneous one-dimensional model predicts the performance of a thermally double coupled auto-thermal multi-tubular reactor for simultaneous production of hydrogen, benzene, methanol and dimethyether (DME) in an economical approach for both co- and counter- current modes of operation. Reversed flow of cyclohexane has been considered for the counter-current flow regime. The simulation results for co- and counter-current modes have been investigated and compared with corresponding predictions for conventional methanol reactor and traditional coupled methanol reactor. In addition, various operating parameters along the reactor have been studied. The simulation results present that methanol yield in co- and counter- current modes are reached to 0.3735 and 0.3363 in a thermally double coupled reactor, respectively. Also, results for counter-current mode show a superior performance in hydrogen and benzene production. Finally, the results of simulation illustrate that the coupling of these reactions could be beneficial.