. Methane reacts with chlorine to produce methylchloride according to the reaction:
CH4 + Cl2 --> CH3Cl + HCl
Once formed, methylchloride can react again with chlorine to produce dichloromethane, as follows:
CH3Cl +Cl2 --> CH2Cl2 + HCl
In large scale methyl chloride production process, chlorine and methane are fed to a reactor with a molar ratio CH4/Cl2 of 5:1, so as to minimize the formation of undesired compounds. Conversion at the reactor can be considered as 100%, and the molar ratio CH3Cl/ CH3Cl2 at the reactor outlet is 4/1. The reactor effluent gas is cooled in a condenser, condensing all of theCH3Cl and CH3Cl2, and this liquid stream is sent to a distillation tower for further separation. The non-condensed gas (HCl and unreacted reactants) is sent to a scrubber where HCl is removed, and the remaining gases âpractically pure methane, at 200 psia and 108o C- is recirculated to the reactor. Draw the process flowchart, label all streams and include all known variables. Also, for a production of 1000 kg/h of CH3Cl, estimate:
a) Number of independent material balances that can be set up for this process.
b) Methaneâs percenage excess at the reactor inlet (with respect to the primary reaction).
c) Molar flowrate, in kmol/h, of methyl chloride at the distillation towerâs outlet.
d) Molar flowrate of CH2Cl2 , in kmol/h, at the distillation towerâs outlet.
e) Molar flowrate of HCl that exits the scrubber.
f) Mass flowrate of fresh methane that is fed to the process (in kg/h).
g) Molar flowrate of recirculated methane, in kmol/h
h) Compressibility factor of the recirculation stream.
i) Volumetric flow rate of the recirculation stream, in m3 /h
j) Volumetric flow rate of the fresh feed in Standard Cubic Feet per Hour (SCFH)
. Methane reacts with chlorine to produce methylchloride according to the reaction:
CH4 + Cl2 --> CH3Cl + HCl
Once formed, methylchloride can react again with chlorine to produce dichloromethane, as follows:
CH3Cl +Cl2 --> CH2Cl2 + HCl
In large scale methyl chloride production process, chlorine and methane are fed to a reactor with a molar ratio CH4/Cl2 of 5:1, so as to minimize the formation of undesired compounds. Conversion at the reactor can be considered as 100%, and the molar ratio CH3Cl/ CH3Cl2 at the reactor outlet is 4/1. The reactor effluent gas is cooled in a condenser, condensing all of theCH3Cl and CH3Cl2, and this liquid stream is sent to a distillation tower for further separation. The non-condensed gas (HCl and unreacted reactants) is sent to a scrubber where HCl is removed, and the remaining gases âpractically pure methane, at 200 psia and 108o C- is recirculated to the reactor. Draw the process flowchart, label all streams and include all known variables. Also, for a production of 1000 kg/h of CH3Cl, estimate:
a) Number of independent material balances that can be set up for this process.
b) Methaneâs percenage excess at the reactor inlet (with respect to the primary reaction).
c) Molar flowrate, in kmol/h, of methyl chloride at the distillation towerâs outlet.
d) Molar flowrate of CH2Cl2 , in kmol/h, at the distillation towerâs outlet.
e) Molar flowrate of HCl that exits the scrubber.
f) Mass flowrate of fresh methane that is fed to the process (in kg/h).
g) Molar flowrate of recirculated methane, in kmol/h
h) Compressibility factor of the recirculation stream.
i) Volumetric flow rate of the recirculation stream, in m3 /h
j) Volumetric flow rate of the fresh feed in Standard Cubic Feet per Hour (SCFH)
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