Lakehead University Library Logo
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Knowledge Commons Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009
    • View Item
    •   Knowledge Commons Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    quick search

    Browse

    All of Knowledge CommonsCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDisciplineAdvisorCommittee MemberThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDisciplineAdvisorCommittee Member

    My Account

    Login

    Low CO2 methanol by methane pyrolysis in catalytic liquid metal bubble reactor

    View/Open
    Embargoed until Sept. 15, 2023 (2.728Mb)
    Date
    2022
    Author
    Roberts, Braeden
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Methanol production based on methane pyrolysis presents an opportunity for CO2 utilization and lower CO2 emissions than traditional methanol production processes that are based on methane reforming. This research employs a coupled hydrodynamic and kinetic pyrolysis reactor model in the design and simulation of a methanol plant that produces 2000 t/d of grade A methanol by direct hydrogenation of CO2. The methane pyrolysis occurs in a catalytic liquid metal bubble reactor where natural gas is injected at the bottom of the liquid metal bath and forms bubbles that rise through the molten metal. Methane pyrolysis occurs non catalytically inside the bubbles and catalytically at the gas-liquid interface. Solid carbon separates from the molten metal and forms a layer on top of the molten salt cap that is on top of the molten metal and is used to limit molten metal losses. The solid carbon can be continuously removed via skimming. A fired heater and heat recovery section are used to satisfy the energy demands of the process. Because the advantage of methanol synthesis based on methane pyrolysis lies in its low CO2 emissions, a comprehensive CO2 accounting is performed which accounts for the plant direct CO2 emissions as well as the indirect CO2 emissions associated with the natural gas supply chain and the capture of the process CO2 feed. The calculated CO2 emissions are compared to literature values for other methanol production processes based on methane reforming or methane pyrolysis. The plant economics are assessed to determine the levelized cost of carbon and evaluate the economic viability of the novel process. The proposed process has cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave emissions of 0.074 and 1.448 t CO2-eq/t MeOH, respectively, when a CH4 conversion of 80% in the pyrolysis reactor is used and when the indirect CO2 emissions are calculated at their base values. The corresponding volume of Cu0.45Bi0.55 catalytic liquid metal is 98.0 m3 . These operating conditions result in a levelized cost of carbon of $270/t. It was found that the levelized cost of carbon is most sensitive to the fixed capital investment of the plant and the purchase price of CO2. This work shows that the source of CO2 is a critical variable for this process, as it affects both the purchase price and the emissions associated with its capture.
    URI
    https://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/5095
    Collections
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 [1409]

    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback

     

     


    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback