7 replies to this topic

[adam123collings]

Im currently working on the design of a steam methane reformer . Our aim is to design a natural gas-to-methanol plant capable of meeting an annual production rate of at least 300,000 metric tonnes per year.

After successfully going through your previous posts regarding steam methane reformer, I have manged to successfully carry out the energy balance, mass balance and the amount of fuel (NG) required. one key information to mention is the fact that I'm designing a steam methane reformer for the production of methanol rather than hydrogen. And when carrying out the energy balnce i have excluded the tail gas stream as fuel.

However I'm struggling with three key aspects of my design, one being pressure drop calculations in the reactor and the second being the type of reactor required, the sub parts involved with it, if we're required to bring the feed ( NG / steam) to a certain pressure/ temperature) and if so how we would go about doing this. And finally, an assessment of the rate controlling steps if applicable.

 

[SilverShaded]

Methane reformers typically operate at around 30bar, if the Natural gas supply pressure is not high enough you will have to compressr it, steam, somewhat obviously, should be steam of the right pressure. 

The reaction takes place in tubes fill with catalyst inside a furnace, there are various proprietary designs, top fired, bottom fired, side fired etc check out the licensors web pages.

There is probably some kinetic information online somewhere, use google.

[adam123collings]

Dear SilverShaded,

 

Thank you for your swift reply, have you got a direct link for a licensors webpage as I'm struggling to find one. 

[breizh]

Hi,

Google Steam methane reformer licensor 

https://www.topsoe.c...hanol/reforming

Good luck

Breizh 

[adam123collings]

Hi breizh,

 

Thank you for the reply, I've checked out the link you've mentioned however i didn't seem to take much detail away from it, in your opinion would it be a good idea to model the reactor as a heat exchanger and design it from there or nor?

Edited by adam123collings, 02 March 2022 - 03:16 PM.

[breizh]

Hi,

Consider the search engine in this forum to support your work .

Good luck

Breizh

[adam123collings]

thank you for the swift reply breizh, i will do, coming on to my next point do you have any idea how i can go about sizing the reactor if the only details i have is the composition of the inlet/outlet and the amount of methanol  that needs to be produced.

[PingPong]

Im currently working on the design of a steam methane reformer . Our aim is to design a natural gas-to-methanol plant capable of meeting an annual production rate of at least 300,000 metric tonnes per year.

After successfully going through your previous posts regarding steam methane reformer, I have manged to successfully carry out the energy balance, mass balance and the amount of fuel (NG) required. one key information to mention is the fact that I'm designing a steam methane reformer for the production of methanol rather than hydrogen. And when carrying out the energy balnce i have excluded the tail gas stream as fuel.

However I'm struggling with three key aspects of my design, one being pressure drop calculations in the reactor and the second being the type of reactor required, the sub parts involved with it, if we're required to bring the feed ( NG / steam) to a certain pressure/ temperature) and if so how we would go about doing this. And finally, an assessment of the rate controlling steps if applicable.

You probably already saw this topic but I'll mention it here anyway:

https://www.cheresou...-reformer-unit/

 

Unless you want to use an isothermal reactor (like Linde) the reactor design for a gaseous reactor is rather simple: a vertical vessel with catalyst particles in it. See for example the WGS reactor that I showed in the mentioned topic. Methanol reactor layout can be similar.

Reactor pressure drop can be calculated using Ergun equation.

I have no experience with methanol reactor sizing so I can't advise you on that.

Maybe you can find kinetics in scientific articles or on the internet.