Methanol process

Abstract

A process for the synthesis of methanol comprises: (a) passing a synthesis gas mixture comprising a loop gas and a make-up gas through a first synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst, said reactor cooled by boiling water under pressure, to form a mixed gas containing methanol, (b) cooling the mixed gas containing methanol, (c) passing said cooled mixed gas containing methanol through a second synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst in which further methanol is synthesised to form a product gas stream, (d) cooling said product gas to condense methanol, (e) recovering said methanol and returning unreacted gas as the loop gas to said first synthesis reactor, wherein the mixed gas containing methanol from the first synthesis reactor is cooled in heat exchange with either said loop gas or said make up gas.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.