CO + 2 H2 -----> CH3OH
A synthesis gas stream consisting of 66.90% H2, 32.70% CO, and 0.400% CH4 (by mole) is fed into the process described below at a rate of 100 mol/hour. The effluent stream from the reactor is fed into a separator where the methanol is completely removed, and the unconverted reactants are recycled to the reactor. To avoid the buildup of methane, a portion of the recycled stream is purged. At present operating conditions, the CO conversion over the entire process is 91.50%, and the methane mole fraction at the reactor inlet (Stream 2) is 2.870%.
(a) what is the production rate of methanol?
(b) what is the flow rate of the purge stream(6)?
(c) what is the mole fractions of each component in the purge stream?
(d) what is the recycle ratio?