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US 4,230,680 AGranted
Low energy process for synthesis of ammonia
AssigneePullman Incorporated
InventorsColman L. Becker, Joseph R. LeBlanc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved process for the synthesis of ammonia utilizing three catalyst beds wherein the temperature of the synthesis feed gas and the effluent of at least one of the catalyst beds is controlled without the addition of quench gas.
Claims11
A process for the synthesis of ammonia, comprising:
- passing a synthesis feed gas consisting essentially of hydrogen and nitrogen in approximately a 3 to 1 ratio through at least one heat exchanger to heat said synthesis feed gas to a first reaction temperature;
- passing said heated synthesis gas at said first reaction temperature through a first ammonia synthesis catalyst bed wherein an exothermic reaction occurs to produce a first effluent containing ammonia;
- passing a portion of said first catalyst bed effluent through a heat exchanger to cool said effluent portion and mixing said cooled first effluent portion with the remainder of said first catalyst bed effluent to adjust the temperature of said first catalyst bed effluent to a second reaction temperature;
- passing said first catalyst bed effluent at said second reaction temperature through a second ammonia synthesis catalyst bed for exothermic reaction to produce a second catalyst bed effluent containing further ammonia;
- passing a portion of said second catalyst bed effluent through another heat exchanger to cool said second effluent portion and mixing said cooled second effluent portion with the remainder of said second catalyst bed effluent to adjust the temperature of said second catalyst bed effluent to a third reaction temperature;
- and
- passing said second catalyst bed effluent at said third reaction temperature through a third ammonia synthesis catalyst bed wherein an exothermic reaction occurs to produce a third effluent containing further ammonia.
4 more elements
A synthesis process for producing ammonia, comprising:
- passing a synthesis gas consisting essentially of hydrogen and nitrogen in approximately a 3 to 1 ratio at a pressure within the range of 25 to 90 atmospheres through a series of indirect heat exchangers to heat said synthesis gas to reaction temperature;
- passing said heated synthesis gas radially through a first ammonia synthesis catalyst bed, the thickness of said bed being such that the pressure drop is less than 1 atmosphere, wherein an exothermic reaction occurs to produce a first effluent containing ammonia;
- passing a portion of said first effluent through one of said indirect heat exchangers to heat said synthesis gas and cool said first effluent and bypassing the remaining portion of said first effluent from passage through said indirect heat exchanger and combining said portions to control the temperature of said first effluent;
- passing said cooled first effluent radially through a second ammonia synthesis catalyst bed, the thickness of said bed being such that the pressure drop is less than 1 atmosphere, wherein an exothermic reaction occurs to produce a second effluent containing ammonia;
- passing a portion of said second effluent through one of said indirect heat exchangers to heat said synthesis gas and cool said second effluent and bypassing the remaining portion of said second effluent from passage through said indirect heat exchanger and combining said portions to control the temperature of said second effluent;
- and
- passing said cooled second effluent radially through a third ammonia synthesis catalyst bed, the thickness of said bed being such that the pressure drop is less than 1 atmosphere, wherein an exothermic reaction occurs to produce a third effluent containing ammonia.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.