Simulation and model design of pipe-shell reactor for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas

The simulation was made based on the model of pipe-shell reactor that was established by the model of global kinetics of synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas over a bifunctional catalyst. The results of simulation showed that the selectivity for dimethyl ether (DME) and the conversion of CO were higher but the hot spot was kept below the temperature limit of the pipe-shell reactor. The suitable diameter of the pipe was ϕ38 × 2 mm, and the length of the pipe was 5.8 m. The optimal process conditions of the reactor were that the pressure was 5 MPa, the temperature of the cooling water was 240 ° C, and the temperature of the raw gas at inlet of the reactor was 220 °C. The production of this reactor was 102800 t/y (ton per year) under these conditions.