Clean process technology reactors

Since the reactor is at the heart of the process, this is where to start when considering clean process technology. The separation and recycle system is next and finally process operations are considered. 

Eastman Chemical Company has operated a coal-to-methanol plant in Kingsport, Tennessee, since 1983. Two Texaco gasifiers (one is a backup) process 34 Mg/h (37 US ton/h) of coal to synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is converted to methanol by use of ICl methanol technology. Methanol is an intermediate for producing methyl acetate and acetic acid. The plant produces about 225 Gg/a (250,000 US ton/a) of acetic anhydride. As part of the DOE Clean Coal Technology Program, Air Products and Cnemicals, Inc., and Eastman Chemic Company are constructing a 9.8-Mg/h (260-US ton/d) slurry-phase reactor for the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol and dimethyl... 

In this chapter, a brief description of the main bio-SNG facilities and projects in Europe is presented as well as the main process units (gasification, gas cleaning and methana-tion) integrated for bio-SNG production. Therefore, a case study for bio-SNG production is modeled by using the CHEMCAD 6.3.1.4168 software. Two process technologies, a fixed (adiabatic case) or fluidized (isothermal) bed methanation reactors are considered, while three different product gas compositions from real biomass gasification data are fed as input syngas for the modeled system. Einally, CH4 yield and chemical efficiency of the different cases are compared and discussed. 

New reactor technologies are currently under development, and these include meso- and micro-structured reactors or the use of membranes. Among meso-structured reactors, monolithic catalysts play a pre-eminent role in environmental applications, initially in the cleaning of automotive exhaust gases. Beside this gas-solid application, other meso-structures such as membranes [57, 58], corrugated plate or other arranged catalysts and, of course, monoliths can be used as multiphase reactors [59, 60]. These reactors also offer a real potential for process intensification, which has already been demonstrated in commercial applications such as the production of hydrogen peroxide. 

ECO Purification Systems USA, Inc. (EPS) has patented the ECOCHOICE process. This technology uses catalytic oxidation to destroy dissolved organic contaminants in a fixed-bed reactor. Ozone and the polluted water pass through the reactor where the organic contaminants are oxidized to form carbon dioxide and water. Clean water is discharged, and residual ozone is recycled or destroyed within the treatment system. 

Civilian applications are numerous, but most funding of SCWO technology has stemmed from the military s need to find a safe and effective alternative to incineration of their wastes, as well as the need to clean up mixed wastes (radioactive and hazardous organic materials) at DOE weapons facilities. For better utilization of SCWO for its application to a wide range of waste types, a better fundamental understanding of reaction media, including reaction rates, reaction mechanisms, and phase behavior of multicomponent systems is required. Such an understanding would help optimize the process conditions to minimize reactor corrosion and salt... 

Description The Vinnolit PVC process uses a new high-performance reactor (1), which is available in sizes up to 150 m3. A closed and clean reactor technology is applied thus, opening of the reactors is not necessary, except for occasional inspections. Equally important, high-pressure water cleaning is not necessary. All process operations of this unit are controlled by a distributed process control system (DCS). 

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