Conversion Of Gas To Methanol System Safety Analysis

Nowadays, global methanol is mainly produced from natural gas and coal. The methanol from natural gas accounts for more than 90% of the total produced methanol. Rich in coal and short of oil and gas, in China, methanol is mainly synthesized by coal gasification and coke oven conversion. It was measured that methanol of 0.2 ton could be obtained from per ton coal. In this study, the process of methanol synthesis by coke oven gas is analyzed with the hazard and detrimental factors identified within the main process such as sulfur removal, compress, fine sulfur removal, methanol synthesis, and storage. Safety assessments of the conversion unit and the product tank unit are conducted using DOW fire and explosion index. The safety investigations on the furnace coke oven gas compressor systems and the heating furnace system are carried out in detail using the HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Analysis) method. Safety evaluation is performed on the reformer using event tress analysis. Potential hazards, such as explosion or leakage of tanks are also analyzed. Based on the above analysis and investigations, measures concerning the plot plan, process and equipments are proposed in order to ensure safe operation of the conversion unit.