Liquid Phase Methanation. Research and Development Report No. 78.

摘要

The progress in the development of the liquid phase methanation (LPM) process for the period May 1, 1973through June 30, 1974is summarized. The key feature of the LPM process is the use of a hydrocarbon liquid phase that serves the dual purpose of (1) a heat sink for the energy generated by the methanation reaction (CO + 3H sub 2 =CH sub 4 + H sub 2 O) and (2) the fluidization medium for the reaction catalyst (solid phase). Three-phase fluidization and kinetic reaction models that satisfactorily correlate the raw data are presented. The derivation of each model is explained and extensive data for each from bench-scale and process development units are presented. Various economic optimization and comparison studies are presented. Optimization studies indicate preferred ranges of operating variables in a commercial-size (250MM SCFD) methanation plant. Comparison studies indicate the economic advantage of the LPM process over other methanation processes in a commercial-size plant.