Energy-efficient dehydrogenation of methanol in a membrane reactor: a mathematical modeling

A two-dimensional non-isothermal stationary mathematical model of the catalytic membrane reactor for the process of methanol dehydrogenation is described. Copper supported on the carbonaceous support was considered as a catalyst. The reaction of methanol dehydrogenation was thermodynamically conjugated with a reaction of hydrogen oxidation taking place in a shell side of the membrane reactor. The effects of various parameters on the methanol conversion and the methyl formate yield have been calculated with the developed model and discussed. Two different types of heating the gas flow were considered and compared. In the case of conjugated dehydrogenation process, the methyl formate yield reaches 77%, when the reactor outer wall was heated up to 150 °C. When the inlet gas flows in the tube and shell sides were heated up to 100 and 83 °C, correspondingly, the yield was 72%.