Enhancement of CO conversion in a novel slurry bubble column reactor for methanol synthesis

This paper is dealing with the simulation of a commercial size slurry bubble column reactor (SBCR) for catalytic conversion of synthesis gas (CO + CO2 + H2) to methanol and comparison of the results especially carbon monoxide removal with gas-phase model in the quasi-steady state condition. For this purpose it was assumed that the flow pattern of gas is plug, and axial dispersion model was considered for liquid–solid phase. The results of the model for Shiraz petrochemical complex feedstock show that the production rate of methanol in a commercial SBC reactor is lower than conventional gas-phase methanol synthesis. This disadvantage is corrected by the modified feed which includes 5% CO and the 95% of the conventional feed. This novelty results in the same methanol production rate with the conventional gas-phase reactor. Besides the same methanol production rate, CO injection to the feed, causes water production noticeably reduced during methanol synthesis via CO2 hydrogenation. Consequently lower catalyst deactivation rate and higher methanol production rate are achieved.