Automated testing of methanol synthesis catalysts

Abstract

For methanol producers, catalyst testing is of importance for various reasons, including optimizing plant performance and process economy, comparing the performances of the various types of commercial catalysts and generating data to support and facilitate negotiations with catalyst manufacturers on the in-plant performance and in guarantee disputes. The low-temperature methanol synthesis catalyst is very complex. The deactivation behaviour, which is very important for plant performance, is greatly affected by the precursor phases of the catalyst and the operating temperature. Prolonged testing over several months is necessary to discriminate between the deactivation behaviour of the various catalysts. A fully automated test bench was developed for methanol synthesis catalyst testing. Details of this apparatus are discussed and some experiences after 1 year of continuous operation are considered.