Analysis of integrated system for ammonia synthesis and methyl formate production in the thermally coupled reactor

Abstract

In this study, the simultaneous production of ammonia and methyl formate (MF) in a thermally coupled reactor has been investigated. Since the ammonia synthesis reaction is associated with heat release, and the production of MF is an endothermic reaction, the ammonia production reaction supplies the heat required for MF's reaction in the proposed reactor. To justify the suggested model's accuracy, the results are verified with the same condition's experimental data. This reactor's benefits include the elimination of ammonia synthesis inter-stage coolers, and reduced energy consumption. Also, exchanged heat causes significant improvements in both equilibrium reactions and enhanced process performance. On the other hand, by the novel configuration reactor, the methanol dehydrogenation reaction's hydrogen supplied about 21.57% of the required hydrogen in ammonia production feed. Eventually, the effect of input parameters on reactor performance investigates by using the sensitivity analysis and optimization process. It also found that about 34.66% of required hydrogen in ammonia synthesis feeds by methanol dehydrogenation reaction in optimum conditions supplied.