Chemical plant for methanol

1) Synthesis gas

Feed chemicals
25 mol CO

5 mol H2

2) Compressor

200-350 bar

3) High pressure reactor

High pressure jacketed reactor
300 - 375 degrees
Catalyst
Le Chatelier

4) Heat exchanger

Vapour mass cooled & condensation occurs
(Methanol then CO then H2)

5) Surge drum

Gas goes up & liquid drops down
Prevents fluctuations in flow rate/ pressure (caused by compressor)

6) Let down valve

Throttling valve causes pressure reduction to 14 bar

7) Flash drum

Secondary evaporator
Fuel gases e.g. H2, CO, CO2, CH4 vaporise out & are used elsewhere in plant

😎 Purification reactor

KMnO4 goes in
Oxidises organic impurities before distillation

9) Ether distillation column

Ethers have lower bp due to less intermolecular bonding & no hydrogen bonding

10) Reflux

Reflux condenses entrained side products

11) Methanol distillation column

Crude methanol
Methanol, heavy alcohols, water

12) Reboiler

Ensures bottom product primarily water
Vapourises entrained methanol