Abstract: A continuous process for recovering ammonia from a purge gas of an ammonia synthesis system wherein the purge gas is scrubbed by an aqueous liquid solution in counter-current flow with continuous cooling which is controlled to maintain temperature levels safely above the freezing point and to produce an aqueous solution of high ammonia concentration which is mixed with an anhydrous ammonia product of the ammonia synthesis system to form a blended ammonia product with a minimum water concentration high enough to provide corrosion protection to carbon steel storage equipment and a maximum water concentration low enough to meet a maximum design specification for the concentration of water in the blended ammonia product.

Abstract: An ethane-rich stream is reduced in pressure below the inlet pressure to a pyrolysis furnace, vaporized in heat exchange relationship with a process stream, recompressed, and passed to the pyrolysis furnace.

Abstract: A process for separating hydrogen and methane from a gas mixture containing hydrocarbons heavier than methane in which the gas mixture is passed through a plurality of chilling stages, a bottoms portion from at least one of the chilling stages being passed to a hydrogen stripper before being introduced to a fractionating column, the hydrogen stripper overheads portion being passed back into the chilling train from which a final hydrogen rich stream containing in excess of ninety mole percent hydrogen is separated at a temperature lower than -140.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure heat sinks.

Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas in which a pressure swing adsorption unit is utilized to replace former CO.sub.2 removal, methanation, drying and purification steps. To increase the efficiency of the process, a hydrogen fuel cell is utilized to generate electricity and a high purity nitrogen purge stream for a pressure swing absorption unit. Accordingly, after reforming and high temperature catalytic shift conversion, the feed stream is divided into a first stream to feed the fuel cell and a second stream which is directly introduced to the pressure swing adsorption unit. After the first stream is reacted in the fuel cell, a nitrogen rich stream is passed to a de-oxygenation unit and then utilized as the pressure swing adsorption purge stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for synthesizing ammonia from an ammonia feed gas passing to an ammonia synthesis converter from a horizontally disposed heat exchanger. The synthesis converter comprising a shell and catalyst holder positioned within and spaced slightly from the shell to provide an annular passageway therebetween, is close coupled through a channel to a heat exchanger and a conduit extends through the channel and is adapted to be connected to the tube side of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure steam generation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the cryogenic purification of industrial by-product gas streams containing recoverable hydrogen. Two feed streams, one of which contains non-readily condensible compounds having boiling points below that of methane, are passed through a successive series of cooling and separation stages. A condensed bottom fraction is separated in a separation drum from an overhead of increasing purity at each stage, and the condensates are combined into one or more condensate streams. The overhead from the stream containing the non-readily condensible compounds is injected into a combined condensate stream, reducing the temperature thereof, and the combined condensate stream is passed back through the heat exchange means to provide refrigeration for the system. An increased amount of hydrogen product is thereby recovered.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed which comprises an outer shell, a bundle of heat exchange tubes within the shell and positioned within a tube sheet adjacent one end thereof, and a shroud spaced between the shell and the tubes. The exchanger is constructed so that hot incoming fluid passes over the heat exchange tubes inside of the shroud and then, in its cooled state, passes along the back face of the tube sheet and between the outer surface of the shroud and the inner surface of the shell, so that thermal stresses in the tube sheet are minimized.