Reactor types Characteristics/usages Benefits in a DME plant Cautions

Fixed-beds Simplicity and lower cost

Catalytic heterogeneous gas
phase reactions
For catalytic reactions with low or
intermediate heat of reaction
High conversion achieved by
decreasing the temperature along
the reactor
Catalyst deactivation
High recycle of syngas
High operational investment
High pressure drop
Slurry phase Catalytic heterogeneous gas phase
reactions
Manageable temperature better heat transfer Complicated equipment
Loss of catalyst particles
Fluidized-bed Catalytic heterogeneous gas phase
reactions
Lower gassolid mass transfer resistance
Excellent temperature control
High conversion and no need for recirculation
Moderate operating pressure
Collision between catalyst
particles
and the reactor wall
Loss of catalyst
Coupled and dual type
reactors
For both highly exothermic and
endothermic reactions
Lowering both capital and operating costs
Highly energy-efficient
Hot spots can be controlled
Coupling reactor and
separation units
For methanol dehydration
CD (or RD): distillation column and
the reactor are combined.
DWC: split the middle section of a
single tower into two sections.
R-DWC: reactive dividing-wall
column (based on DWC design)
Higher selectivity/conversion
Reducing operational cost
R-DWC: lowers footprint with milder operating
condition, better performance (energy saving, reduced
CO2 emission, reduced total annual cost)
CD: requires moderate
temperature,
while the employed catalyst is
active at
higher temperature
Micro reactors For both highly exothermic and
endothermic reactions
High controllability of the reaction conditions
Small holdup value
Avoiding thermal runaway
Compactness and parallel processibility
Laminar flow behavior
Membrane reactors Has been used in indirect and also
direct methods.
Good reaction yield
No additional steps of separation and
purification
Prevent the catalyst deactivation
Dual bed membrane reactor:
Higher thermal efficiency
Reduces the cost of syngas production

Spherical membrane reactor:
Decreases the pressure drop
Increases the DME production
May produce undesired HC
Pore blockage
Thermal/mechanical stability
issues
Sources of DME
Coal
Stranded natural gas
Biomass
Wood
Waste and refuse
Applications of DME
Transportation fuel
Domestic fuel
Power generation
Fuel Cell
Chemical Feedstock
Propellent in aerosol
DME as a
chemical
building
block
Propylene
Iso-
butylene
Ethylene
Methyl
acetate
Ethylene
Glycol
Gasoline
Higher
esters
Acetic acid
Oxygenates