Question

One process for the production of methanol is the catalytic reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen....

One process for the production of methanol is the catalytic reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The chemical reaction is given by:

CO2  3H2  CH3OH  H2O

It is desired to produce 1000 mol/hr of methanol. The single pass conversion of the reactor is 10% while the overall conversion is 80% (both in terms of hydrogen). Note, carbon dioxide in the fresh feed is in 20% excess and all of the product (methanol) and the byproduct (water) is removed in the condenser.

a) Why is the recycle stream included in the design?

b) What is the purpose of the purge stream? In other words, why would this design not work without the purge stream?

c) List two reasons (with supporting explanation) why the single pass conversion might be so low.

d) Determine the flow rate and composition of the feed stream (F).

e) Determine the flow rate and composition of the purge stream (P)

. f) What percentage of the flow leaving the condenser enters the purge stream?

g) Determine the recycle ratio (R/F).

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