Energy Performance Analysis of Heat Transport System Using Methanol Decomposition and Synthesis.

Abstract

A chemical heat transport system using methanol decomposition and synthesis was analyzed using a process simulator. The most of the required electric energy was that of the compressor and the heat loss was caused mainly by the recovery process of the unreacted methanol from the decomposed gas. As pressure of methanol decomposition became higher, the heat loss increased, but the power of compressor was reduced and the heat transport efficiency became higher. A plate fin type reactor for methanol decomposition was prepared and tested, which showed that the conversion of methanol decomposition decreased with increasing pressure. The result of the experiment was applied to the process simulation and it was found that the heat transport efficiency scarcely changed with the pressure of the reactor in the conversion range from 40 to 80%. At higher conversion than 80%, the efficiency increased with increasing pressure, and at lower conversion than 40%, the efficiency decreased with increasing pressure.