Feasibility Study for Producing Dimethyl Ether using Catalytic Distillation

• Author / Creator

  Dar, Danish

• This research reports a feasibility study based on simulation for the production of dimethyl ether via the dehydration of methanol using catalytic distillation. Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model is used for the reaction in the simulation. Simulations are based on a catalytic distillation column 2-inches (5.08 cm) in diameter. Parametric studies using Aspen Plus are used to determine the effect of parameters such as number of equilibrium stages, catalyst loading, catalyst location, reflux ratio, reboiler duty, feed rate, feed location, feed concentration, feed temperature and column pressure have on the concentration of catalytic distillation products and column temperature. It is found that the number of theoretical stages has no significant change on the product concentrations after 20 theoretical stages. Ten stripping stages are used to reduce methanol concentrations in the bottom, and the total number of theoretical stages is set to 30 for the base case, with condenser and reboiler as the first and last stage, respectively. Total catalyst loading is 2,800 grams of catalyst with 140 grams per stage and should be placed at the top of the column between stages 2 and 21 in a 30 stage column. It is determined that a reflux ratio of 4 is optimal for high dimethyl ether distillate concentrations. Reboiler duty should be kept at a minimum of 1.5 kW. Feed location of methanol is determined to be optimal directly above the catalyst bed regardless of catalyst location. Column temperatures are observed to be sensitive to changes in column pressure and feed rate. Column pressure has a positive correlation with distillate dimethyl ether concentration and column temperature.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Fuel
  • Simulation
  • Global Warming
  • Dimethyl Ether
  • Reactive Distillation
  • Catalytic Distillation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3XP6VK5S

• License

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