Methanol Further Cooling

[sgms]

I want to cool methanol gas-liquid mixture after separator at 40 DegC to about 10 degC. The duty is about 15 GJ/h.
Does any body has idea how to do the methanol further cooling.
The reason way I want to cool are:
1. To remove as much as possible liquid carry over into downstram compressor (we have several time abradable seal damage du to liquid carry over)
2. To have additional methanol recovery (about 5.5 t/h for 10 degC cooling)

Thanks
sgms

 

[25362]

I assume you are speaking of methanol synthesized after steam reforming. It is known that one-pass conversion is low.

Although further chilling may result in more liquid methanol, apparently your main problem is liquid carry over to the recycle compressor. How do you propose to reduce this liquid carry over by further cooling the recycle gas ?
Isn't it more profitable to improve or re-design your vapour/liquid separating facilities ? Kindly comment.

 

[imok2]

Sgms: In refrigeration work, when we come out of defrost conditions we protect our compressors with a device called an accumulator. This is a receiver like container installed on the suction(intake) side of the compressor. This might work for you

 

[sgms]

We did to improve the V/L separation by the latest spiraflow, but we don't really succesfull. We have another abradable seal damage.

Might by the sugestion form imok2 will work. we will work out on that proposal or you have in your hand..?

thanks

 

[25362]

As long as the compressor is not otherwise harmed, one could consider vaporizing any liquid carried over by heating the gas at the suction-side.