Methanol dehydration into dimethyl ether (DME) simulation in fixed bed reactor

Dimethyl ether (DME) production through methanol dehydration has a lot of advantages, such as high DME yield and easier optimization on the operating condition. Therefore, it is necessary to study the impact of reaction parameters such as feed conditions on the reaction. The process of methanol dehydration is naturally accompanied by several side reactions. Usage of γ-alumina catalyst as methanol dehydration catalyst could prevent the side reactions from happening because it is active and selective towards methanol dehydration. Based on the thermodynamic approach, the methanol equilibrium conversion will decrease as the feed temperature increases and feed purity decreases. The simulation of methanol dehydration reaction resulted in a methanol conversion and bed temperature profile along the reactor. Based on the simulation result, methanol conversion will increase as the temperature and feed concentration increase.