Methanol production process
AssigneeTechnology Convergence Inc.
InventorJohn M. Shaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the production of methanol comprises subjecting a hydrocarbon feedstock partial oxidation and an optional reformer to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock, at least a portion of which is obtained from electrolyzing water, to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide and optionally to carbon dioxide; subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream; and, recycling a substantial portion of the methanol product stream to the partial oxidation reactor.
Claims25
A process for the production of methanol comprising:
- (a) feeding an amount of a hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor at a first pressure to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;
- (b) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen and recovering at least a portion of the hydrogen to produce a hydrogen stream;
- (c) adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock, at least a portion of which is obtained from the hydrogen stream, to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide;
- (d) subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis at a pressure higher than the first pressure to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream;
- (e) separating the tail gas stream into at least two streams comprising a purge stream and a recycle stream, the recycle stream comprising a substantial portion of the tail gas stream;
- and,
- (f) recycling the recycle stream to the partial oxidation reactor.
A process for the production of methanol comprising:
- (a) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen and recovering at least some of the hydrogen to produce a hydrogen stream and recovering at least some of the oxygen to produce an oxygen stream;
- (b) feeding an amount of a hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock, at least a portion of which is obtained from the oxygen stream, to a partial oxidation reactor at a first pressure to produce an effluent gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;
- (c) adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock, at least a portion of which is obtained from the hydrogen stream, to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide;
- (d) subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis at a pressure higher than the first pressure to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream;
- (e) recycling a portion of the tail gas stream to the partial oxidation reactor;
- and,
- (f) obtaining a purge gas stream from the tail gas stream and combusting the purge stream to obtain energy wherein reformation is not used to provide hydrogen as a product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.