Computer-aided process intensification of natural gas to methanol process

Monjur, Mohammed Sadaf; Hasan, M. Faruque

doi:10.1002/aic.17622

Title: Computer-aided process intensification of natural gas to methanol process

Journal Article · 25 January 2022 · AIChE Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17622 · OSTI ID:1976260

Monjur, Mohammed Sadaf ^[1];

^[2]

Texas A & M University, College Station, TX (United States); OSTI
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX (United States)

The recent revolution in shale gas has presented opportunities for distributed manufacturing of key commodity chemicals, such as methanol, from methane. However, the conventional methane-to-methanol process is energy intensive which negatively affects the profitability and sustainability. Here an intensified process configuration that is both economically attractive and environmentally sustainable. This flowsheet is systematically discovered using the building block-based representation and optimization methodology. The new process configuration utilizes membrane-assisted reactive separations and can have as much as 190% higher total annual profit compared to a conventional configuration. Additionally, it has 57% less CO₂-equivalent greenhouse gas emission. Such drastic improvement highlights the advantages of building block-based computer-aided process intensification method.

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Research Organization:: Texas A & M University, College Station, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007888

OSTI ID:: 1976260

Journal Information:: AIChE Journal, Journal Name: AIChE Journal Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 68; ISSN 0001-1541

Publisher:: American Institute of Chemical EngineersCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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computer aided process intensification
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Title: Computer-aided process intensification of natural gas to methanol process

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