Forced periodic operations of a chemical reactor for methanol synthesis - The search for the best scenario based on Nonlinear Frequency Response Method. Part II Simultaneous modulation of two inputs

The analysis of the potential to improve performance of a methanol synthesis reactor through forced periodical operations by Nonlinear Frequency Response method is presented. The methanol synthesis in an isothermal and isobaric lab-scale CSTR is considered. First, the analysis was performed for single input modulations (in Part I), which showed that significant improvements can't be achieved. Here, the study is extended to analysis of simultaneous modulations of two inputs. All possible input combi-nations (6 cases) are analysed and the optimal forcing parameters, maximizing the time-average metha-nol production, were determined. For all combinations the improvement is possible, but for some cases it is not significant. The highest improvement is predicted for simultaneous modulation of the inlet partial pressure of CO and the inlet volumetric flow rate. This case, for which it is possible to achieve up to 33.51 % of methanol production, is analysed it detail and optimized using multi-objective optimization. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents the potential to improve performance of a methanol synthesis reactor through forced periodical operations using the Nonlinear Frequency Response method. The analysis was extended to simultaneous modulations of two inputs, determining optimal forcing parameters for maximizing methanol production. While improvement is possible for all combinations, it is not significant in some cases, with the highest improvement predicted for the simultaneous modulation of the inlet partial pressure of CO and the inlet volumetric flow rate.