On-board conversion of alcohols to ethers for fumigation in compression ignition engines

2003 ◽  
Vol 217 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Armbruster ◽  
S Stucki ◽  
E Olsson ◽  
S Gjirja
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Catalytic Converter ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Methanol Conversion ◽  
Bifunctional Catalyst ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Compression Ignition ◽  
Warm Start ◽  
Compression Ignition Engines ◽  
Start Up

Fumigation of dimethyl ether (DME) is an interesting option for using methanol as a fuel in compression ignition engines. In this concept, a fraction of the methanol used as a fuel is catalytically converted on-board to DME and water, and the products of the conversion are introduced into the engine via the combustion air. With an optimized engine the performance as well as emissions are comparable with those obtained when running the engine on alcohol with polyethylene glycol as ignition improver. The methanol conversion has been tested with different catalysts under various conditions. Because of its superior thermal stability and the low costs, γ-Al2O3 has been selected as the most promising catalyst for converting methanol to DME in suffcient rates for an on-board application. The chemical kinetics and the mass transfer limitations of the γ-Al2O3 catalyst used for the methanol dehydration were evaluated. The rate-determining step of the catalytic reaction is found to be the reaction of adsorbed intermediates (the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism); mass transfer is limited by Knudsen diffusivity. The kinetic data were used to design a catalytic converter for fuel processing on-board. Providing DME for fumigation in a 180 kW engine will require approximately 0.7 kg of catalyst. The compact catalyst is necessary for an effcient and fast start-up of the process. The transient behaviour (cold/warm start-up; load changes) of a fixed-bed reactor with γ-Al2O3 has been estimated using simplified models, which show that the cold start problem should be manageable in less than 1 min. With the hot gas of a methanol burner in front of the fixed bed or a bifunctional catalyst, the catalyst bed can be heated to 250 °C and the reaction of methanol to DME started within 25 s. This is an acceptable time for cold-starting an engine in heavy-duty vehicles.

Modeling of aerated upflow fixed bed reactors for nitrification

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Behrendt
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Bulk Liquid ◽  
Initial Value ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactors ◽  
Number Of Cells

A mathematical model for nitrification in an aerated fixed bed reactor has been developed. This model is based on material balances in the bulk liquid, gas phase and in the biofilm area. The fixed bed is divided into a number of cells according to the reduced remixing behaviour. A fixed bed cell consists of 4 compartments: the support, the gas phase, the bulk liquid phase and the stagnant volume containing the biofilm. In the stagnant volume the biological transmutation of the ammonia is located. The transport phenomena are modelled with mass transfer formulations so that the balances could be formulated as an initial value problem. The results of the simulation and experiments are compared.

scholarly journals Hierarchical H-ZSM5 zeolites based on natural kaolinite as a high-performance catalyst for methanol to aromatic hydrocarbons conversion

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Asghari ◽  
Mohammadreza Khanmohammadi Khorrami ◽  
Sayed Habib Kazemi
Keyword(s):  
Pore Size ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Direct Synthesis ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Methanol Conversion ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Good Prospect

AbstractThe present work introduces a good prospect for the development of hierarchical catalysts with excellent catalytic performance in the methanol to aromatic hydrocarbons conversion (MTA) process. Hierarchical H-ZSM5 zeolites, with a tailored pore size and different Si/Al ratios, were synthesized directly using natural kaolin clay as a low-cost silica and aluminium resource. Further explored for the direct synthesis of hierarchical HZSM-5 structures was the steam assisted conversion (SAC) with a cost-effective and green affordable saccharide source of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), as a secondary mesopore agent. The fabricated zeolites exhibiting good crystallinity, 2D and 3D nanostructures, high specific surface area, tailored pore size, and tunable acidity. Finally, the catalyst performance in the conversion of methanol to aromatic hydrocarbons was tested in a fixed bed reactor. The synthesized H-ZSM5 catalysts exhibited superior methanol conversion (over 100 h up to 90%) and selectivity (over 85%) in the methanol conversion to aromatic hydrocarbon products.

Adsorption Kinetics of Oxytetracycline onto Activated Carbon in a Closed-Loop Fixed Bed Reactor

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 569-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Djamila Djedouani ◽  
Malika Chabani ◽  
Abdeltif Amrane ◽  
Aicha Bensmaili
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Sorption Process ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Dynamic Interactions ◽  
Initial Concentration

Abstract Batch experiments were carried out for the adsorption of oxytetracycline (OTC) onto powdered activated carbon (PAC). The operating variables examined were the initial concentration (20–150 mg L−1) and the adsorbent concentration (0.75–1.75 g L−1). As observed increasing the initial concentration, while decreasing the adsorbent dosage, had a positive impact on the amount of OTC uptake (mg g−1). The kinetics was examined in a closed-loop fixed bed adsorber to propose an adsorption mechanism, to understand the dynamic interactions of OTC with ECA08 activated carbon and to predict its fate with time. The sorption results were analyzed using chemical and physical kinetics models. For concentrations lower than 70 mg L−1, the sorption process was found to be controlled by both surface reactions and mass transfer. The average external mass transfer coefficient and intraparticle diffusion coefficient were found to be 0.0051 min−1 and 1.97 mg g−1 min−0.5, respectively. For concentrations higher than 70 mg L−1, mass transfer became rapid and the chemical reaction at the surface of the solid phase was the rate-limiting step. The results showed that the adsorption reaction was accurately described by the pseudo-second-order model.

Modeling and Optimization of MeOH to DME in Isothermal Fixed-bed Reactor

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Farsi ◽  
Abdolhossein Jahanmiri ◽  
Reza Eslamloueyan
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Methanol Conversion ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Methanol Dehydration ◽  
Algebraic Equations ◽  
Optimal Temperature ◽  
Heterogeneous Model ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Shell And Tube ◽  
Green Fuel

Dimethyl ether (DME) is a green fuel that commercially produced in an adiabatic fixed bed reactor by methanol dehydration. In the present work, a shell and tube fixed bed reactor is modeled and optimized for DME production. The reactor is modeled based on mass and energy conservation equations as well as auxiliary equations. In order to estimate the DME production and temperature profile along the reactor, a one dimensional heterogeneous model consist of a set of nonlinear differential and algebraic equations has been solved numerically. Also, The DME production in the isothermal reactor is maximized by adjusting the optimal temperature distribution along the reactor using genetic algorithm. Then, the performance of the proposed isothermal reactor is compared with industrial adiabatic fixed bed reactor. Results showed the higher DME production rate and methanol conversion in the optimized reactor.

Effect of Silica Base Catalyst on Transformation of Methanol to Hydrocarbon

2017 ◽  
Vol 751 ◽  
pp. 512-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supranee Lao-Ubol ◽  
Phunthinee Somwongsa ◽  
Pracha Laoauyporn ◽  
Pasinee Panith ◽  
Siriporn Larpkiattaworn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Diameter ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Methanol Conversion ◽  
Liquid Hydrocarbon ◽  
Product Distribution ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
Zeolite Catalysts ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Phosphorus Species ◽  
Methanol To Hydrocarbon

Five different types of silica catalyst (SBA-15, SBA-15-PO3H2, and three different Si/Al ratio of commercial zeolites (30, 80 and 280) were used to study the transformation of methanol to hydrocarbon (MTH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pore diameter and acidity in the structure of silica catalysts on the process performances in terms of methanol conversion and hydrocarbon selectivity. The mesoporous silica catalysts were prepared by co-condensation method. The catalysts samples were characterized by GC-MS, XRD, BET, and NH3-TPD techniques. The catalytic performance of synthesized and commercial catalysts for MTH process was evaluated using a homemade fixed bed reactor at temperature (300°C). It was found that the liquid hydrocarbon product provided by zeolite catalysts is aromatic hydrocarbons-rich. High Si/Al zeolites with larger pore size lead to higher selectivity and yield to paraffins (C1-C7). In contrast to commercial zeolite catalyst, SBA-15 and its modification with phosphorus species showed no conversion under studied condition. These results indicate that both pore diameter and acidity influence the product distribution in methanol to hydrocarbon process.

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