Simulation of Direct Dimethyl Ether Synthesis in a Slurry Reactor by Recirculation and Axial Dispersion Models

Dimethyl ether is an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel fuel. This fuel can be produced directly from synthesis gas in a slurry bubble column reactor. We predicted the performance of the slurry bubble column reactor for dimethyl ether synthesis using a recirculation model and comparison with axial dispersion results. The differential equations of recirculation and axial dispersion models for the dimethyl ether synthesis are solved for a similar kinetic equation. A comparison of the results with experimental data from the literature confirms that the recirculation model better represents the reactor behavior. Finally, the effects of operating variables are studied using a simulation framework.