System for conversion of methanol to gasoline

An apparatus for producing gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons from C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 oxygenates comprising:

• (a) a fixed bed reaction zone containing a crystalline zeolite catalyst;
• (b) means for transporting the reactor effluent from a reaction zone to a separation zone;
• (c) phase separator means wherein the reactor effluent is split into a gas stream, a water stream, and a liquid hydrocarbon stream;
• (d) means for transporting the liquid hydrocarbon stream to a heat exchange evaporator;
• (e) a heat exchange evaporator wherein the liquid hydrocarbon stream is partially vaporized;
• (f) means for transporting said partially vaporized stream to an accumulator;
• (g) an accumulator operatively connected as the first stage of a fractionating column wherein a vapor phase comprising C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 saturated hydrocarbons is separated from a liquid phase;
• (h) means for passing said liquid phase to a gasoline stripping zone;
• (i) a gasoline stripping zone wherein a stabilized gasoline product is prepared;
• (j) means for conducting said vapor phase from (g) to a further heat exchange evaporator;
• (k) a heat exchange evaporator wherein said vapor phase is heated to a temperature sufficient for entrance into a fixed bed reaction zone;
• (l) means for passing said heated vapor phase to a mixing zone;
• (m) a mixing zone wherein said heated vapor phase comprising C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 saturated hydrocarbons is combined with an oxygenate feedstock;
• and
• (n) means for passing said mixture to the fixed bed reaction zone of step (a).