Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of a CO<sub>2</sub> Hydrogenation Pilot Scale Reactor for Efficient Methanol Production

Decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors, namely the extractive industries, has become an imperative, and thus, processes such as carbon capture and utilization (CCU) have been explored thoroughly and seem to be a promising solution. Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) catalytic h...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antonis Peppas, Chrysa Politi, Konstantinos Charalampopoulos, Vasiliki Kontou, Sotirios Karellas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Eng
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/5/4/180
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Summary:Decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors, namely the extractive industries, has become an imperative, and thus, processes such as carbon capture and utilization (CCU) have been explored thoroughly and seem to be a promising solution. Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) catalytic hydrogenation employing green hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) to produce synthetic methanol (MeOH) aims to utilize industrial-captured carbon. A thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of a pilot scale methanol synthesis reactor was conducted by modeling the process using Aspen Plus V12 software. The methanol synthesis model consists mainly of a multi-tubular packed-bed reactor with a thermal oil heat recovery system, a product separator, and an internal recycle loop for optimal efficiency. The reactor has a 5 kg h<sup>−1</sup> methanol production capacity, and its heat recovery system achieves an overall heat reduction of 64.1% and can retrieve 1.293 kWh per kg of methanol produced. The overall carbon conversion achieved is 80.6%. Valuable information concerning the design and profile of the reactor is provided in this study.
ISSN:2673-4117