Process Simulation of CO2 Utilization from Acid Gas Removal Unit
for Dimethyl Ether Production

There are many oil and gas fields in Indonesia which contain high CO2 that need to be treated. The Acid Gas Removal Unit (AGRU) is installed to remove the CO2. The AGRU will release the CO2 gas from the regeneration column. It still contains a high concentration of CO2 (higher than 80%). The accumulation of CO2 emission to the atmosphere will impact the environment. To promote environment-friendly technology, the process can be improved with conversion of CO2 into methanol. It will provide a relatively closed loop of the carbon cycle and as a renewable energy alternative. This study aims to provide packed bed reactor design which can be implemented in the small-scale methanol production plant utilizing high CO2 feed gas. The reactor temperature was varied from 200°C to 250°C and pressure were operated in the range of 40 Bar up to 75 Bar. These variations were used to analyze the effects of methanol production. The simulation results showed that peak methanol production rate was achieved at the temperature around 230°C. As the conclusion, the reactor showed better performance at the higher pressure and higher temperature although the reaction is exothermic including the recycling process can reduce the cost of hydrogen.

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CO₂ Utilization Process Simulation for Enhancing Production of Dimethyl Ether (DME)

Kartohardjono

Adji

Muharam

2020

International Journal of Chemical Engineering

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Increase in the world energy demand also increases the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and ocean acidification. This study proposed the simulation process to utilize CO2 released from the acid gas removal unit in one of gas processing plants in Indonesia to enhance the production of dimethyl ether (DME) through unreacted gas recycle that can be beneficial in reducing CO2 emission to the atmosphere. Simulation was developed in Unisim R390.1 using Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera (PRSV) as a fluid package. Simulation was validated by several studies conducted by many researchers and giving satisfactory results especially in terms of productivity, conversion, and selectivity as a function of reactor temperatures in the indirect and the direct DME synthesis processes. Simulation results show that the DME production was enhanced by around 49.6% and 65.1% for indirect and direct processes, respectively, at a recycling rate of 7 MMSCFD. Compressor is required to increase the unreacted gas pressure to the desired pressure in the methanol reactor or dual methanol-DME reactor in both processes. Specific power consumption (SPC) was used as a tested parameter for the effectiveness of recycling unreacted gas. Based on the simulation, the direct DME synthesis process is superior over the indirect process in terms of DME and methanol productions, SPCs, and system energy efficiencies.

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Process Simulation of CO2 Utilization from Acid Gas Removal Unit for Dimethyl Ether Production

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to dimethyl ether: A review of recent advances in catalysts and water selective layer

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to dimethyl ether: A review of recent advances in catalysts and water selective layer

Simulation of Methanol Synthesis in Packed Bed Reactor for Utilization of CO₂ from Acid Gas Removal Unit

CO₂ Utilization Process Simulation for Enhancing Production of Dimethyl Ether (DME)

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Process Simulation of CO2 Utilization from Acid Gas Removal Unit for Dimethyl Ether Production

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to dimethyl ether: A review of recent advances in catalysts and water selective layer

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to dimethyl ether: A review of recent advances in catalysts and water selective layer

Simulation of Methanol Synthesis in Packed Bed Reactor for Utilization of CO2 from Acid Gas Removal Unit

CO2 Utilization Process Simulation for Enhancing Production of Dimethyl Ether (DME)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Simulation of Methanol Synthesis in Packed Bed Reactor for Utilization of CO₂ from Acid Gas Removal Unit

CO₂ Utilization Process Simulation for Enhancing Production of Dimethyl Ether (DME)