Abstract: A methanol synthesis process includes reacting a process gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide over a catalyst including shaped units formed from a reduced and passivated catalyst powder the powder including copper in the range 10-80% by weight, zinc oxide in the range 20-90% by weight, alumina in the range 5-60% by weight and optionally one or more oxidic promoter compounds selected from compounds of Mg, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Si and rare earths in the range 0.01-10% by weight, to form a product gas, and condensing methanol, water and oxygenate by-products therefrom, wherein the total oxygenate by-product level in the condensate is below 500 ppm.

Abstract: A catalyst unit is described in the form of a cylinder having a length C and diameter D, which has two or more flutes running along its length, wherein said cylinder has domed ends of lengths A and B, such that (A+B+C)/D is in the range 0.50 to 2.00, and (A+B)/C is in the range 0.40 to 5.00. The catalyst may be used particularly in reactions where hydrogen is a reactant such as hydroprocessing, hydrogenation, water-gas shift reactions, methanation, hydrocarbon synthesis by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, methanol synthesis and ammonia synthesis.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of methanol comprises: (a) passing a synthesis gas mixture comprising a loop gas and a make-up gas through a first synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst, said reactor cooled by boiling water under pressure, to form a mixed gas containing methanol, (b) cooling the mixed gas containing methanol, (c) passing said cooled mixed gas containing methanol through a second synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst in which further methanol is synthesized to form a product gas stream, (d) cooling said product gas to condense methanol, (e) recovering said methanol and returning unreacted gas as the loop gas to said first synthesis reactor, wherein the mixed gas containing methanol from the first synthesis reactor is cooled in heat exchange with either said loop gas or said make up gas.

Abstract: A methanol synthesis process includes reacting a process gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide over a catalyst including shaped units formed from a reduced and passivated catalyst powder the powder including copper in the range 10-80% by weight, zinc oxide in the range 20-90% by weight, alumina in the range 5-60% by weight and optionally one or more oxidic promoter compounds selected from compounds of Mg, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Si and rare earths in the range 0.01-10% by weight, to form a product gas, and condensing methanol, water and oxygenate by-products therefrom, wherein the total oxygenate by-product level in the condensate is below 500 ppm.

Abstract: A catalyst unit is described in the form of a cylinder having a length C and diameter D, which has two or more flutes running along its length, wherein said cylinder has domed ends of lengths A and B, such that (A+B+C)/D is in the range 0.50 to 2.00, and (A+B)/C is in the range 0.40 to 5.00. The catalyst may be used particularly in reactions where hydrogen is a reactant such as hydroprocessing, hydrogenation, water-gas shift reactions, methanation, hydrocarbon synthesis by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, methanol synthesis and ammonia synthesis.

Abstract: A process for synthesising methanol comprises the steps of: (i) reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock and separating water to generate a make-up gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides, the make-up gas mixture having a stoichiometric number, R, R=([H2]?[CO2])/([CO2]+[CO]) of less than 2.0, (ii) combining the make up gas with an unreacted synthesis gas to form a synthesis gas mixture, (iii) passing the synthesis gas through a bed of methanol synthesis catalyst to generate a product stream, (iv) cooling the product stream to recover a crude methanol stream from the unreacted synthesis gas, (v) removing a portion of the unreacted synthesis gas as a purge gas, and (vi) feeding the remaining unreacted synthesis gas to step (ii), wherein hydrogen is recovered from a portion of the purge gas and the make up gas, and the recovered hydrogen is included in the synthesis gas mixture.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of methanol comprises: (a) passing a synthesis gas mixture comprising a loop gas and a make-up gas through a first synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst, said reactor cooled by boiling water under pressure, to form a mixed gas containing methanol, (b) cooling the mixed gas containing methanol, (c) passing said cooled mixed gas containing methanol through a second synthesis reactor containing a methanol synthesis catalyst in which further methanol is synthesised to form a product gas stream, (d) cooling said product gas to condense methanol, (e) recovering said methanol and returning unreacted gas as the loop gas to said first synthesis reactor, wherein the mixed gas containing methanol from the first synthesis reactor is cooled in heat exchange with either said loop gas or said make up gas.

Abstract: A process for synthesising methanol comprises the steps of: (i) reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock and separating water to generate a make-up gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides, the make-up gas mixture having a stoichiometric number, R, R=([H2]?[CO2])/([CO2]+[CO]) of less than 2.0, (ii) combining the make up gas with an unreacted synthesis gas to form a synthesis gas mixture, (iii) passing the synthesis gas through a bed of methanol synthesis catalyst to generate a product stream, (iv) cooling the product stream to recover a crude methanol stream from the unreacted synthesis gas, (v) removing a portion of the unreacted synthesis gas as a purge gas, and (vi) feeding the remaining unreacted synthesis gas to step (ii), wherein hydrogen is recovered from a portion of the purge gas and the make up gas, and the recovered hydrogen is included in the synthesis gas mixture.

Abstract: Methanol is synthesized from pre-heated methanol synthesis gas in one or more adiabatic synthesis stages with cooling of the resultant gas after each stage. Further methanol synthesis is then effected on the resultant partially reacted synthesis gas in a bed of synthesis catalyst cooled by means of a coolant flowing co-currently through tubes disposed in the catalyst bed. After cooling methanol is separated from the unreacted gas. Part of the unreacted gas is combined with make-up gas and used as the coolant fed to the aforesaid tubes, thus producing the pre-heated synthesis gas to be fed to the adiabatic synthesis stages.

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.

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.