New configuration gas-cooled fluidized bed membrane reactor to reduce the thermodynamic limitations of dimethyl ether production

Abstract

In this study, a gas-cooled fluidized bed membrane reactor with a new configuration was investigated aiming to reduce thermodynamic limitations in DME production. In this configuration, two Pd-Ag and alumina-silica membranes were used simultaneously for the permeation of hydrogen into the reactor and to remove its containing water, respectively. The heat of the exothermic DME synthesis reactions is removed by heat transfer with sweep and hydrogen gaseous flows. The simulation of the fluidized bed membrane reactor shows that the presence of the membranes increases DME production and carbon monoxide (CO) conversion by about 30.6% and 28.3%, respectively. Enhanced DME production was observed by raising temperature, pressure, and shell and tube side flow rates. Space velocity and H2/CO ratio had an optimum point in DME production. The proposed model can be used for the design of an industrial catalytic membrane reactor for DME production from synthesis gas.