Optimal conditions in converting methanol to dimethyl ether, methyl formate, and hydrogen utilizing a double membrane heat exchanger reactor

• Modeling a recuperative reactor for producing DME, MF and H2 from methanol.
• Improving MF production rate and purity utilizing a hydrogen selective membrane.
• Improving DME production rate and purity utilizing a water selective membrane.
• Optimization of the reactor by using genetic algorithm to obtain better performance.

Following importance of investigating new sources of energy with highly efficient processes, a new configuration for simultaneous production of high purity dimethyl ether (DME), hydrogen and methyl formate (MF) is numerically studied in this work. In this regard, a catalytic heat-exchanger reactor assisted with two different membranes for methanol conversion and in-situ separation of products is simulated. The interesting feature of this system is utilizing only one feedstock (i.e. methanol) to produce different valuable products. Methanol is dehydrated through an exothermic reaction and supplies required energy for the methanol dehydrogenation reaction. Produced water in the exothermic side and produced hydrogen in the endothermic side are separated by permeation to particular membranes. A steady state one-dimensional plug flow model is developed to evaluate molar and thermal behavior of the system. Optimum operating conditions are determined applying genetic algorithm as a powerful optimization method. The proposed configuration working under optimum conditions promotes methanol conversion to DME to % 95.1 and methanol conversion to MF to % 99.6 providing high purity products in the output streams.

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