Energy-Process Integration of the Gas-Cooled/Water-Cooled Fixed-Bed Reactor Network for Methanol Synthesis

The paper deals with the techno-economical assessment of the gas-cooled/water-cooled fixed-bed reactor network for methanol synthesis. The study is the extension of the first-principles model for the watercooled reactor already proposed in our prior work (Manenti et al., 2013). Here, the optimization is extended to the steam generation and the reactor length ratio. As a result, basing on the integrated optimization of energy and process yield, we propose to significantly revise the common design. The traditional water/gas cooling reactor length ratio could be significantly reduced with consequent simultaneous increase in methanol production and steam generation as well, however preserving safety and operational ranges. The economic benefit deriving from the proposed design for a medium-scale process is estimated in more than 1.7 M€/y.