EnginSoft - Conference Abstracts

EnginSoft International Conference 2009
CAE Technologies for Industry

The use of Fluent in the fluid dynamic design of ammonia and methanol plants

Beretti Andrea - Casale Group (Switzerland)
Colmegna Giacomo - Casale Group (Switzerland)
Zanichelli Luca - Casale Group (Switzerland)

Abstract

Since its foundation, Casale Group has greatly invested in the development of innovative technologies to respond to the challenge of the industry. Innovations and diversification have been the driving force which brings Casale Group to become leader in the design of ammonia, methanol and urea new plants and complete plant revamping. The usage of Fluent in the design of ammonia and methanol reactors is essential in order to maximize the overall plant efficiency, ensuring the correct exploitation of the catalyst charge and minimizing the pressure drops. The fair understanding of the velocity field inside the reactor is fundamental for the design of mixing devices to obtain uniform distributions of gas composition and temperatures at the inlet of the catalyst, maximizing the conversion of reagents into products and the catalyst life.

A further essential requirement is to control the gas velocity inside the reactor, by means of suitable protection screens, in order to avoid undesirable movements of the catalyst. Fluent has also greatly improved the fluid dynamic design of burners for synthesis gas production, ensuring better mixing between the reactants and negligible soot formation and increasing operating life.