22. Low Pressure Dimethyl Ether Synthesis (18) Optimization of Temperature Profile of Temperature Gradient Reactor Using Simple Genetic Algorithm And Neural Network

Abstract

Dimethyl ether from natural gas or coal via syngas (3CO+3H_2→DME+CO_2) attracts much attention as high quality diesel fuel of next generation. Considering the compact process based on the small-scale carbon resources, low pressure-operation (at 1-3MPa) and high one-pass conversion (90% CO conversion) are required to produce DME with high efficiency. Temperature-gradient reactor (TGR) was effective to overcome both equilibrium limit of the reaction at high temperature and the low activity of catalyst at low temperature. The temperature gradient was optimized using simple genetic algorithm (GA) and neural network (NN). Evolution of the temperature profile was accelerated and successfully optimized to give 71% CO conversion higher than that in a conventional isothermal reactor (66%).