Process Design and Analysis of Aromatics Production from Coal via Methanol with a High Yield

Abstract

Producing aromatics from coal via methanol is a novel technology, which could mitigate the energy shortage in a petroleum-poor area. However, the selectivity of methanol to aromatics is merely 40−70 wt % due to the byproducts of light hydrocarbons. In this paper, three novel designs are proposed to improve the aromatics yield by directly or indirectly converting light hydrocarbons into aromatics. In addition, cofeeding of coal and natural gas is applied in two of the three designs. On the basis of detailed process modeling and simulation, the process designs are assessed by mass balance, technoeconomic, and life cycle analyses. The results show that the aromatics yield is significantly improved by integrating light hydrocarbon conversion units. The CO 2 emissions and water consumption are notably decreased in the two cofeeding designs. In addition, the net present value of the design integrated with steam reforming of C 2− hydrocarbons and aromatization of C 3+ hydrocarbons is the highest, about 1.9 times as much as that of the nonintegrated design. The cofeeding design integrated with steam reforming of C 2− hydrocarbons and aromatization of C 3+ hydrocarbons leads to the lowest global warming potential and abiotic depletion potential, only 46.1 and 71.1% of the nonintegrated design, respectively. It implies that a more complex design shows better environmental performances.

Olefin Production via Methanol Integrated with Light Hydrocarbon Conversion: Novel Process Designs, Techno-Economic Analysis, and Environmental Analysis

“…From previous work, 18 we could know that this method could convert hydrocarbon byproducts into the desired hydrocarbon products, so as to increase the profit and reduce GHG emission. Furthermore, the cofeeding of natural gas is also considered in this work, which could further reduce the GHG emission of MTO, which is also rarely reported in the MTO process design.…”

“…Process synthesis, simulation, and integration were carried out to establish a basis for the techno-economic analysis of shale gas-to-methanol production. 17 Jiang et al 18 integrated light hydrocarbon conversion with coal to aromatics via methanol, which could convert most light hydrocarbon byproducts into aromatics.…”

Simulation-Based Superstructure Optimization for the Synthesis Process of Aromatics Production from Methanol

“…(11) The baremodule factor of each equipment. (12) The prices of feedstock, products, power, heating, and cooling utilities. (13) The number of operators.…”

“…P F H 6. 12 Economic Evaluation Constraints. The target of the economic analysis is to identify the net present value of each production route.…”

“…Zhang et al 11 proposed two novel process designs by integrating methanol aromatization with light hydrocarbon aromatization to increase process profitability and environmental sustainability. They also 12 introduced direct or indirect aromatization of light hydrocarbons and cofeeding of coal and natural gas to significantly improve the economic and environmental performances of producing aromatics from coal via methanol. These publications introduce specific MTA process designs to determine the economic feasibility or environmental sustainability.…”