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The STAR configuration for methanol synthesis in reversed flow reactors
Author(s) -
Vanden Bussche K. M.,
Froment G. F.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450740524
Subject(s) - star (game theory) , methanol , flow (mathematics) , environmental science , astrophysics , mechanics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
Although the transient reversed flow operation of a fixed bed reactor for methanol synthesis was shown to be an economically attractive alternative for the traditional steady state technology, it suffers from strongly varying exit concentrations upon flow reversal. These not only disturb the operation of downstream equipment but also significantly decrease the time averaged conversion to methanol. To avoid this drawback, the STAR reactor concept is introduced. It operates in a fully transient mode, but combines the attractive features of the reversed flow reactor operation with practically constant exit concentrations. Extensive simulation work shows that the conversions obtained exceed those of the single reversed flow reactor by at least 5 percent.