Process for preparing methanol

A process for producing methanol, comprising:

• a. providing a synthesis gas including carbon oxides and hydrogen;
• b. passing the synthesis gas at elevated pressure and elevated temperature through a catalyst bed of a methanol synthesis reactor for conversion of the synthesis gas to methanol thereby producing a product stream comprising crude methanol and unreacted synthesis gas;
• c. cooling the product stream for condensation and separation of crude methanol comprising at least methanol and water from the cooled product stream;
• d. recycling at least a portion of the unreacted synthesis gas to the catalyst bed inlet, wherein the unreacted synthesis gas is combined with the synthesis gas thereby producing a mixed synthesis gas, and passing the mixed synthesis gas at elevated pressure and elevated temperature through the catalyst bed of the methanol synthesis catalyst for conversion of the mixed synthesis gas to methanol, wherein the mixed synthesis gas at the catalyst bed inlet has a stoichiometry number SN of ≥0.80, where
• SN
• =
• n
• ⁡
• (
• H
• 2
• )
• -
• n
• ⁡
• (
• CO
• 2
• )
• n
• ⁡
• (
• CO
• )
• +
• n
• ⁡
• (
• CO
• 2
• )
• ,
• with
• ⁢
• n
• ⁢
• in
• [
• mol
• ]
• ,
• the catalyst bed in the conversion of the mixed synthesis gas to methanol has a maximum catalyst bed temperature of ≤280° C., and the mixed synthesis gas at the catalyst bed inlet has a carbon monoxide concentration of between 9.0% and 13.0% by volume.