Mohsen Abbasi

In this study, exothermic reaction of methanol synthesis is coupled with endothermic reaction of dehydrogenation of cyclohexane in a two-packed bed reactor in order to simultaneous production of hydrogen, methanol and benzene. Steady-state, heterogeneous model predicts the performance of this configuration. The simulation results for co-current and counter-current modes in thermally coupled methanol reactor (TCMR) are investigated and compared with data of an industrial scale conventional methanol reactor (CMR) with same feed conditions. In addition, the variation of different operating parameters along the reactor has been considered. The simulation results represent 1.89%enhancements in methanol recovery yield of co-current mode in TCMR in comparison with CMR. Also, results show that hydrogen recovery yield in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane side in co-current and counter-current modes of TCMR is equal to 2.352 and 2.255, respectively. Finally, TCMR in cocurrent mode is a feasible reactor for cost reduction because it has benefits such as production of multiple products, enhancement of productivity by shifting equilibrium of reactions to forward, large savings in the operational and capital costs, compact and efficient process. M.