Perm Researchers Train Software to Design Methanol Reactors
Researchers at Perm Polytechnic have developed a program that enables engineers to calculate and optimize small-scale methanol synthesis reactors without relying on expensive experimental testing.
The tool is based on a mathematical description of chemical reactions involved in natural gas conversion. Engineers input reactor geometry, temperature, pressure and feedstock composition, and the program calculates parameters across individual sections of the reactor. This makes it possible to identify potential overheating or stagnation zones in advance and address them at the design stage.
The program’s accuracy has been validated through comparison with a commercial tool used in industrial gas processing simulations. Comparable domestic solutions have not previously been available. The developers say the approach could be adapted for ammonia, dimethyl ether and synthetic fuel production in the future.
