Process for ammonia and methanol co-production
AssigneeMethanol Casale S.A.
InventorErmanno Filippi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for ammonia and methanol co-production in a plant comprising a secondary reformer section, a high-temperature CO conversion section and a low-temperature CO conversion section, arranged in series, and an ammonia synthesis section, is distinguished by the fact that the unreacted gas flow coming from a methanol synthesis section, before being fed to the low-temperature CO conversion section, is advantageously saturated with a liquid flow comprising H2O appropriately heated by indirect heat exchange with a gaseous flow coming from the secondary reformer section.
Claims8
Process for the ammonia and methanol co-production in a plant comprising a secondary reformer section, a high-temperature CO conversion section and a low-temperature CO conversion section, arranged in series, an ammonia synthesis section, a methanol synthesis section and a methanol separation section, said process comprising the following steps:
- taking a portion of a gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2, H2 and H2O coming from said secondary reformer section;
- feeding said portion of gaseous flow to a cooling and H2O separation section;
- feeding a remaining portion of said gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2, H2 and H2O coming from said secondary reforming section to said high-temperature CO conversion section;
- feeding a gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2, H2 and H2O coming from said high temperature CO conversion section to said low-temperature CO conversion section;
- feeding a substantially H2O-free gaseous flow coming from said cooling and H2O separation section to said methanol synthesis section;
- reacting said substantially H2O-free gaseous flow in said synthesis section for methanol production;
- feeding a gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2, H2 and CH3OH coming from said methanol synthesis section to said methanol separation section;
- separating a fluid flow comprising methanol from a substantially methanol-free gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2 and H2 in said methanol separation section;
- feeding said substantially methanol-free gaseous flow coming from said methanol separation section to said low-temperature CO conversion section;
- feeding a gaseous flow coming from said low-temperature CO conversion section to said ammonia synthesis section for ammonia production;
- and
- feeding to said substantially methanol-free gaseous flow coming from said methanol separation section a liquid flow comprising H2O heated by indirect heat exchange with said portion of gaseous flow coming from said secondary reformer section.
Plant for ammonia and methanol co-production comprising:
- a secondary reformer section (12), a high-temperature CO conversion section (13) and a low-temperature CO conversion section (14), connected in series;
- an ammonia synthesis section (17) in fluid communication with said low-temperature CO conversion section (14);
- a cooling and separation section (21,22) connected to said secondary reforming section (12) for cooling and separating the H2O contained in a portion of a gaseous flow coming from said secondary reformer section (12) and also comprising CO, CO2 and H2;
- a synthesis section for methanol production (23) fed by a substantially H2O-free gaseous flow coming from said cooling and H2O separation section (21,22);
- a methanol separation section (24) fed by a gaseous flow coming from said methanol synthesis section (23) for separation of a fluid flow comprising methanol from a substantially methanol-free gaseous flow comprising CO, CO2 and H2;
- an H2O saturation section (25) for said substantially methanol-free gaseous flow in fluid communication with said low-temperature CO conversion section (14);
- connection means between said saturation section (25) and said low temperature CO conversion section (14);
- and
- a heating section (21) for a liquid flow comprising H2O by indirect heat exchange with said portion of gaseous flow coming from said secondary reformer section (12), in fluid communication with said saturation section (25).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.