New ideas on heat exchange at the inlet and outlet of the methanol synthesis tower
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Currently, methanol synthesis towers generally use the outlet gas to preheat the inlet gas; this approach does allow for efficient use of energy. However, it means that the temperature of the inlet gas is greatly influenced by the temperature of the outlet gas. There is also another drawback: this method does not take into account the overall heat exchange system within both the synthesis tower and the entire methanol production system. I wonder what insights the experts here have!
What was said upstairs wasn’t very clear. Methanol synthesis is generally carried out as a separate unit; if heat exchange occurs with other units, it will cause many difficulties in starting up and stabilizing the system. In current methanol synthesis systems, most of the reaction heat is used to produce steam, so the reaction heat should be fully utilized.
2# yzl79 What I mean is that the inlet temperature is supplied by other heat sources, while the outlet temperature is used to heat other fluid streams. In this way, it is possible to consider the entire heat exchange network – is this feasible? It can be used when the methanol plant is first being designed, right? As a theoretical study, it should have some significance as well, right?
If there are other economic heat sources available, they can be considered, but it is necessary to take into account both overall balance and the interdependent relationships between them. What if methanol needs to be used for operation, but the economic heat source cannot be supplied for some reason?
Today’s methanol synthesis towers generally use the outlet gas to preheat the inlet gas; this approach does allow for efficient use of energy. I believe that the temperature of the inlet gas isn’t greatly constrained by the temperature of the outlet gas, as the heat generated by the reaction is more than sufficient to preheat the incoming gas, and it also enables an excess of steam to be produced. Moreover, there are mechanisms available for adjustment, so there should be no problems. However, it would be even better to fully consider the integration of the synthesis tower with the heat exchange systems in the entire methanol system, based on the actual conditions at the industrial plant.
4# yzl79, this is indeed a problem; thanks for the reminder!
5# ENNDME Thank you for your valuable insights; they are very inspiring! Thank you