Abstract: The present invention specifies a process and a plant for production of a synthesis gas stream which makes it possible to produce the synthesis gas stream with a stoichiometry number suitable for the methanol synthesis or other syntheses. To this end an electrolytically produced hydrogen stream is admixed with a hydrocarbon-containing input gas stream and the resulting hydrogen-containing and hydrocarbon-containing input gas stream is reacted in the presence of oxygen to afford synthesis gas in a reforming step. The process mode according to the invention has the advantage that the electrolytically produced hydrogen stream need not be treated, in particular no oxygen need be removed from the electrolytically produced hydrogen stream. The invention further includes a process and a plant for production of methanol including the process according to the invention and the plant according to the invention for production of the synthesis gas stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing methanol, in which a synthesis gas comprising carbon oxides and hydrogen is provided, which is passed at elevated pressure and elevated temperature through a catalyst bed of a methanol synthesis catalyst for conversion of the synthesis gas to methanol to obtain a product stream comprising crude methanol and unreacted synthesis gas. Unreacted synthesis gas is recycled to the catalyst bed inlet and combined with the synthesis gas, resulting in a mixed synthesis gas. The mixed synthesis gas at the catalyst bed inlet has a stoichiometry number SN of ?0.80, the catalyst bed in the conversion of the mixed synthesis gas to methanol has a maximum catalyst bed temperature of ?280° C., and the mixed synthesis gas at the catalyst bed inlet has a carbon monoxide concentration of ?20% by volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the start-up of an autothermal reformer, wherein syngas is produced in the autothermal reformer during start-up through steam reforming. To facilitate autoignition in the autothermal reformer reactor of the autothermal reformer, the reformed syngas is recycled to an upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor and is mixed with process steam and a hydrocarbon containing process stream. As soon as a minimum hydrogen threshold concentration at the upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor is reached in the mixed process stream, oxygen is added to the burner of the ATR reactor to obtain autoignition of the mixed process stream. Due to the process of the invention, an external hydrogen source for facilitating autoignition of the mixed stream can be omitted. The invention further relates to a plant configured to carry out the process of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention specifies a process and a plant for simultaneous production of methanol and pure carbon monoxide which includes synthesis gas production by partial oxidation of an input stream containing hydrocarbons and subsequent methanol synthesis. According to the invention carbon dioxide is separated from the raw synthesis gas using a sorption apparatus and at least partially introduced into the input gas for the methanol synthesis reactor.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example two-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the methanol product formed in every synthesis stage is separated by condensation and the remaining residual gas is supplied to the downstream synthesis stage or after separation of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention after each synthesis stage the residual gas streams have separated from them a respective purge stream, from which, using one or more hydrogen recovery apparatuses, hydrogen is separated and recycled to the first synthesis stage. The ratio of the individual purge streams and their total molar flow may optionally be varied to allow better control of the reaction in the individual synthesis stages and to allow reaction to the advancing deactivation of the catalysts present therein.

Abstract: A burner for producing synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous, carbon-containing fuels in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant and a moderator, which burner can be operated uncooled, i.e. without a fluid coolant being passed through the burner, is proposed. Steam or carbon dioxide or else mixtures of these materials are used as moderator. This is achieved by the feed channels being configured so that mixing of the fuel, the moderator and the oxidant occurs only outside the burner.

Abstract: A process for producing methanol, wherein a make-up gas stream from a reformer unit is admixed with a hydrogen-containing stream from a hydrogen recovery stage to obtain a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas, which is combined with a residual gas stream and the combined stream is passed through a bed of a methanol synthesis catalyst at elevated pressure and elevated temperature to obtain a product stream comprising methanol and the residual gas stream and wherein the product stream is cooled to remove methanol from the residual gas stream. Wherein a portion of the residual gas stream is removed as a purge gas stream and a portion of the hydrogen-rich synthesis gas stream is removed and combined with the purge gas stream to obtain a mixed synthesis gas stream and the mixed synthesis gas stream is sent to the hydrogen recovery stage to produce the hydrogen-containing stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing pure methanol, wherein the crude methanol stream discharged from a methanol synthesis unit is decompressed in a decompression vessel, is subsequently at least partially freed of low-boiling by-products in a prerun column and is then supplied to a single- or multi-stage methanol purification apparatus from which a pure methanol product stream is finally discharged. According to the invention the tops product stream from the prerun column is subjected to a scrubbing step with a methanol-selective scrubbing medium, thus at least partially recovering methanol present and sending a methanol-depleted tops product stream to the offgas disposal apparatus.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example two-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the methanol product formed in every synthesis stage is separated by condensation and the remaining residual gas is supplied to the downstream synthesis stage or after separation of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention after each synthesis stage the residual gas streams have separated from them a respective purge stream, from which, using one or more hydrogen recovery apparatuses, hydrogen is separated and recycled to the first synthesis stage. The ratio of the individual purge streams and their total molar flow may optionally be varied to allow better control of the reaction in the individual synthesis stages and to allow reaction to the advancing deactivation of the catalysts present therein.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example 2-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the product stream of a synthesis stage is applied to the downstream synthesis stage as a feed stream or after removal of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention a substream is removed from the synthesis gas fresh gas and introduced into the second methanol synthesis reactor as a bypass stream.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example 2-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the methanol product formed in every synthesis stage is removed by condensation and the remaining residual gas is applied to the downstream synthesis stage or after removal of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention a substream is removed from the synthesis gas fresh gas and introduced into the second methanol synthesis reactor as a bypass stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing pure methanol, wherein the crude methanol stream discharged from a methanol synthesis unit is decompressed in a decompression vessel, is subsequently at least partially freed of low-boiling by-products in a prerun column and is then supplied to a single- or multi-stage methanol purification apparatus from which a pure methanol product stream is finally discharged. According to the invention the tops product stream from the prerun column is subjected to a scrubbing step with a methanol-selective scrubbing medium, thus at least partially recovering methanol present and sending a methanol-depleted tops product stream to the offgas disposal apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing methanol and to a plant for producing methanol. A first fresh gas suitable for production of methanol and having a high carbon dioxide content is pre-compressed by a first compressor stage to obtain a second fresh gas. The second fresh gas is merged with a recycle gas stream and further compressed to synthesis pressure in a second compressor stage. Catalytic conversion of the thus obtained synthesis gas stream in a plurality of serially arranged reactor stages with intermediate condensation and separation of the crude methanol reduces the recycle gas amount in the synthesis circuit to such an extent that recycle gas may be directly recycled to the second fresh gas stream, thus ensuring that no recycle gas compressor stage is required and that the total compressor power may be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the start-up of an autothermal reformer, wherein syngas is produced in the autothermal reformer during start-up through steam reforming. To facilitate autoignition in the autothermal reformer reactor of the autothermal reformer, the reformed syngas is recycled to an upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor and is mixed with process steam and a hydrocarbon containing process stream. As soon as a minimum hydrogen threshold concentration at the upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor is reached in the mixed process stream, oxygen is added to the burner of the ATR reactor to obtain autoignition of the mixed process stream. Due to the process of the invention, an external hydrogen source for facilitating autoignition of the mixed stream can be omitted. The invention further relates to a plant configured to carry out the process of the invention.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example 2-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the methanol product formed in every synthesis stage is removed by condensation and the remaining residual gas is applied to the downstream synthesis stage or after removal of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention a substream is removed from the synthesis gas fresh gas and introduced into the second methanol synthesis reactor as a bypass stream.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example 2-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the product stream of a synthesis stage is applied to the downstream synthesis stage as a feed stream or after removal of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention a substream is removed from the synthesis gas fresh gas and introduced into the second methanol synthesis reactor as a bypass stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing methanol and to a plant for producing methanol. A first fresh gas suitable for production of methanol and having a high carbon dioxide content is pre-compressed by a first compressor stage to obtain a second fresh gas. The second fresh gas is merged with a recycle gas stream and further compressed to synthesis pressure in a second compressor stage. Catalytic conversion of the thus obtained synthesis gas stream in a plurality of serially arranged reactor stages with intermediate condensation and separation of the crude methanol reduces the recycle gas amount in the synthesis circuit to such an extent that recycle gas may be directly recycled to the second fresh gas stream, thus ensuring that no recycle gas compressor stage is required and that the total compressor power may be reduced.

Abstract: There is proposed an efficient recovery of methanol from waste gases loaded with methanol in an integrated flow chart for the production and processing of methanol. The methanol fractions separated from the waste gases are recovered within the already existing, distillative processing of the crude methanol to pure methanol, so that no separate apparatuses are required for the recovery of the methanol from the loaded scrubber waste waters. The valuable substance methanol is recovered and the impact on the environment is reduced. By means of particular aspects of the invention the need for water as washing agent can be reduced further.

Abstract: There is proposed an efficient recovery of methanol from waste gases loaded with methanol in an integrated flow chart for the production and processing of methanol. The methanol fractions separated from the waste gases are recovered within the already existing, distillative processing of the crude methanol to pure methanol, so that no separate apparatuses are required for the recovery of the methanol from the loaded scrubber waste waters. The valuable substance methanol is recovered and the impact on the environment is reduced. By means of particular aspects of the invention the need for water as washing agent can be reduced further.

Abstract: A burner for producing synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous, carbon-containing fuels in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant and a moderator, which burner can be operated uncooled, i.e. without a fluid coolant being passed through the burner, is proposed. Steam or carbon dioxide or else mixtures of these materials are used as moderator. This is achieved by the feed channels being configured so that mixing of the fuel, the moderator and the oxidant occurs only outside the burner.