Process for increasing ammonia production
AssigneeBresler and Associates, Inc.
InventorSidney A. Bresler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ammonia is synthesized from a hydrogen and nitrogen mixture containing small concentrations of inert contaminants such as argon, methane, etc. Gases dissolved in the ammonia product normally vented and discharged from the synthesis system are returned to the synthesis loop without removal of the inert contaminants. By so doing, despite the fact that the concentration of inert gases in the synthesis loop is increased, and the concentration of ammonia in the gas mixture leaving the synthesis converter is decreased, nevertheless the total amount of ammonia produced from a given quantity of hydrogen and nitrogen is increased.
Claims6
A process for the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, at least one of which is contaminated with at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon and methane, which consists essentially of the following sequence:
- contacting said hydrogen and nitrogen, together with recycled mixtures (C) and (E), described below, in a converter with an ammonia synthesis catalyst at elevated temperature and elevated pressure to form a gaseous reaction mixture (A) containing ammonia, unreacted hydrogen, unreacted nitrogen and inert gas contaminant,
- cooling said gaseous reaction mixture (A) and separating therefrom a liquid ammonia product (B) containing a portion of the unreacted hydrogen, unreacted nitrogen and inert gas contaminant therein,
- recycling the gaseous remainder (C) of said gaseous reaction mixture (A) to said converter, reducing the pressure of said liquid ammonia product (B) and separating therefrom liquid ammonia (D) and a gaseous mixture (E) containing unreacted hydrogen, unreacted nitrogen, ammonia and inert gas contaminant, and
- recycling a substantial portion of said gaseous mixture (E) without removing therefrom said inert gas contaminant to said converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.