Is there a good paper that describe the total amount of energy required to produce one ton of methanol and the total amount of hydrogen and CO2 needed.
There are many different designs to produce Syngas and MeOH from natural gas. The efficiencies of these processes will vary +/- 10-15% but a “typical” Methanol plant balance is:
1 MMSCFD CH4 => 2.4 MMSCFD Syngas at 2/1 H2 to CO ratio (includes feed + Fuel)
2.4 MMSCFD Syngas => 0.8 MMSCFD MeOH
0.8 MMSCFD MeOH = 67,500 Lb/D MeOH = 243 BPD MeOH
Syngas typically is 2H2 + 1 CO but 3H2 + 1 CO2 will also work. because the water gas shift reaction: CO + H2O CO2 + H2 is usually near equilibrium in Methanol synthesis reactors.
for those unfamiliar with British units: 379.5 SCF = 1Lb- Mole = 453.9 g-mole
MM = 1000,000 (M could mean 1000 to some and 1000,000 to others)
An efficient steam methane reformer will require 350 MMbtu to produce 1 MMSCF of syngas.(after taking credit for High pressure (600 PSIG) steam production.
An older less efficient unit will require about 400 MMbtu
This catalyst vendor's description of the methanol synthesis process may be helpful. Similar material if available from other catalyst vendors and technology licensors.
This is a technological data that can only be obtained from the methanol producer.
Earlier, you have to give yourself some questions. What type of reactor, which catalyst and whether pure CO2, or mixed with CO. In addition, what source of hydrogen and CO2.
Modeling and simulation is another story. We have been working for many years on the kinetics of methanol synthesis from CO2 and separately from CO and CO2 in the presence of copper catalysts. We also modeled a multibed reactor with side injection of cold gas. But that's only a small part of the problem.
Thank you all for your valuable comments. I wanted the variation of the power demand with different amount of methanol production. also the cost analysis which may vary non linear with the amount of methanol production. If anyone know a graph that present these relations I would be thankful.