Load-following reactor system, associated facilities, and method of operating the same

A method of operating a load-following reactor system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one reactor configured for carrying out at least one chemical reaction;
• a reactant line configured to convey a flow of reactants;
• a first heat exchanger through which a first portion of the flow of reactants is configured to pass by means of a first feed line to the at least one reactor;
• at least one valve element configured to control a flowrate of the first portion to the first feed line;
• and
• at least one second feed line connected to the at least one reactor through which a remainder portion of the flow of reactants is configured to pass;
• detecting one or more process conditions in the at least one reactor;
• determining a suitable change in the one or more process conditions;
• determining a proportion of the flow of reactants to divert to the first feed line;
• and
• actuating the at least one valve element.

A load-following reactor system, comprising:

• at least one reactor configured for carrying out at least one chemical reaction, the at least one reactor is a tube-cooled reactor comprising a plurality of tubes configured to extract heat from a methanol-synthesis catalyst and one or more of a reactant, byproducts, and product;
• a reactant line configured to convey a flow of reactants;
• a first heat exchanger through which a first portion of the flow of reactants is configured to pass by means of a first feed line to the at least one reactor;
• at least one valve element configured to control a flowrate of the first portion to the first feed line;
• and
• at least one second feed line connected to the at least one reactor through which a remainder portion of the flow of reactants is configured to pass.