Methanol synthesis
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorTerence James Fitzpatrick
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Abstract
Methanol is synthesised in a synthesis loop wherein recycled unreacted gas, optionally together with part of the make-up gas, is passed through a bed of synthesis catalyst under methanol synthesis conditions, make-up gas is then added and the mixture passed through at least one further bed of synthesis catalyst under methanol synthesis conditions prior to separation of the synthesised methanol. Preferably the further bed of synthesis catalyst is located in a heat exchange reactor producing pressurised hot water which is employed to saturate a hydrocarbon feedstock from which the make-up gas is produced by steam reforming.
Claims8
In a process wherein methanol is synthesized in a synthesis loop from a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides in at least two synthesis stages, the improvement comprising synthesizing methanol from recycled unreacted gas in at least one synthesis stage to give a stream of reacted gas, make-up gas is then added and, prior to separation of the synthesized methanol, a further amount of methanol is synthesized from the resultant mixture in at least one further synthesis stage, with at least the final synthesis stage of the loop being effected in indirect heat exchange with pressurized water as a coolant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.