The use of a jet-stirred continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to study the homogeneous gas phase partial oxidation of methane to methanol

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the use of jet-stirred continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to study the homogeneous gas phase partial oxidation of methane to methanol. The design of the CSTR follows the rules that were defined and verified for spherical jet reactors incorporating a range of volumes. It takes into account the constraints related to turbulence, sonic velocity, and internal recycling limitations. Two techniques may be used to measure the residence time distribution in the CSTR—pulse injection and step change of input concentration. The results, obtained over a wide range of process conditions, exhibit good semi-quantitative agreement with those predicted by a non-isothermal model. The cool flame phenomena, including discontinuity and hysteresis in heat release rate are observed in CSTR. A decrease in temperature in the CSTR was found to favor methanol production, with the highest yields being observed in the region accessible only on the downward sweep of the hysteresis. In addition, an increase in the concentration of oxygen leads to an increase in conversion and width of the hysteresis loop.