Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for performing exothermic equilibrium reactions, especially for producing methanol from synthesis gas in a multistage synthesis with intermediate condensation of the reaction product. The reactor according to the invention has a reactor shell and a multitude of series-connected and mutually fluid-connected reactor cells disposed within the reactor shell, where each of the reactor cells includes a reaction apparatus, a cooling-down apparatus and a phase separation apparatus as reactor cell elements. The reactor has a multitude of reactor planes disposed in a mutually parallel arrangement within the reactor shell, where reactor cell elements of the same kind are disposed in the same reactor plane. The inventive arrangement of the reactor cell elements enables the building of a compact reactor and reduces material stresses within the reactor by the avoidance of large temperature differences within the reactor shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for separating a condensable reaction product from a process gas mixture. The apparatus includes a pressure jacket having an interior, wherein two process units are arranged one atop the other in the pressure jacket. The upper first process unit is configured for condensing the liquid reaction product from the process gas mixture and is thus in the form of a plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger includes vertically arranged plates traversable by a cooling medium. The plates have plate interiors which are traversable by the cooling medium. Adjacent plates spaced apart from one another define plate interspaces which are traversable by the process gas mixture. The lower second process unit is configured for separating the reaction product condensed in the first process unit and is thus in the form of a gas-liquid separator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a methanol synthesis reactor for producing methanol from a synthesis gas mixture. The reactor according to the invention includes a pressure jacket having an interior in which a first and a second process unit are arranged one atop the other. Both process units are fluidically interconnected at least in respect of the process gases and configured as plate heat exchangers, preferably pillow plate heat exchangers. The plate interiors are traversable from bottom to top by cooling media while the plate interspaces are traversable from top to bottom by process gases, in particular synthesis gas and methanol-containing product streams. At least the first of the two process units has a methanol synthesis catalyst on the plate interspace side. The second process unit is used for cooling or further conversion of the product stream obtainable in the first process unit.

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: Proposed according to the invention are a process and a plant for producing carbon dioxide-based methanol and synthesis gas, wherein the produced synthesis gas may be utilized process-internally for methanol synthesis. Hydrocarbons which are present in a carbon dioxide input gas stream as an impurity and are inert under the conditions of the methanol synthesis are chemically utilized through integration of a reforming unit, in particular a POX unit. This is done by supplying a purge gas stream diverted from the methanol synthesis loop to said reforming unit in which the hydrocarbons are converted into synthesis gas. In a preferred embodiment the purge gas stream is supplied to a hydrogen recovery unit, in particular a membrane unit. The hydrocarbons-enriched purge gas stream produced on the retentate side is subsequently supplied to the reforming unit.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing pure methanol from carbon dioxide-rich synthesis gas, the process including the following steps: at least partially reacting the carbon dioxide rich synthesis gas in a methanol synthesis unit, discharging a liquid crude methanol stream from the methanol synthesis unit, introducing the liquid crude methanol stream into a flash tank, discharging from the flash tank a liquid depressurized crude methanol stream as a bottoms product and a gaseous overhead product stream having synthesis gas components, introducing the liquid depressurized crude methanol stream into a distillation apparatus having of a single distillation column, separating the crude methanol stream in the distillation column, discharging an overhead product stream via an overhead product outlet, discharging a bottoms product stream via the bottoms product outlet, and discharging a pure methanol product stream via a first side draw.

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: Provided is a method for cooling a methanol r synthesis reactor effluent vapor stream in a methanol production plant, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving, using an inlet of a cooler, the methanol synthesis reactor effluent vapor stream from an interchanger or a methanol synthesis reactor of the methanol production plant; and spraying, using a recirculation pump connected to a spraying device, a liquid condensate received from a methanol synthesis loop onto a tube sheet of the cooler which enables direct contact of the liquid condensate with the methanol synthesis reactor effluent vapor stream and cools the methanol synthesis reactor effluent vapor stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing methanol in which a compressed make-up gas stream which contains at least one carbon oxide and hydrogen is combined with a residual gas to afford a synthesis gas stream and reacted to afford methanol. According to the invention the residual gas stream and the make-up gas stream are combined using a jet pump, wherein the compressed make-up gas stream is supplied to the jet pump as motive medium via its motive media connection at a pressure p1 and the residual gas stream is supplied to the jet pump as suction medium via its suction port at a pressure p3 and wherein the synthesis gas stream is discharged from the jet pump via its pressure port at a pressure p2 and subsequently supplied to the synthesis stage and wherein p1>p2>p3.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, nitrogen gas of an air separation unit is used to cool the gas formed in a reservoir of liquid from an MEOH unit that is supplied with oxygen by said air separation unit.

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 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: 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: With the invention a washing apparatus and a process for the efficient separation and recovery of methanol from waste gases loaded with methanol is proposed, wherein the invention also can be used 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 particular aspects of the invention the total degree of methanol separation can be adapted according to the locally applicable emission limit values.

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: According to an embodiment of the invention, nitrogen gas of an air separation unit is used to cool the gas formed in a reservoir of liquid from an MEOH unit that is supplied with oxygen by said air separation unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for the methanol synthesis, in particular for the methanol synthesis from a synthesis gas which has a hydrogen deficiency. According to the invention, a purge gas stream therefor is branched off from the synthesis gas circuit of the methanol synthesis, liberated from methanol traces in a washing device, and then treated in a hydrogen separation device which comprises a membrane separation stage and a pressure swing adsorption stage. Depending on the application and magnitude of the hydrogen deficit the membrane separation stage and the pressure swing adsorption stage can be connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: With the invention a washing apparatus and a process for the efficient separation and recovery of methanol from waste gases loaded with methanol is proposed, wherein the invention also can be used 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 particular aspects of the invention the total degree of methanol separation can be adapted according to the locally applicable emission limit values.

Abstract: A method for the co-production of hydrogen and crude methanol, including; a hydrocarbon processing reforming or gasification process generating a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing at least a portion of the syngas stream to a once-through methanol synthesis reactor: introducing at least a portion of the stream from methanol reactor to a separation device separating this stream into a crude methanol stream and methanol synthesis off gas stream; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas to a hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a pure hydrogen stream.

Abstract: For producing a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a starting gas containing hydrocarbons, the starting gas is split up into a first partial stream and a second partial stream, wherein the first partial stream is supplied to a steam reformer in which it is catalytically converted together with steam to obtain a gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon oxides, wherein after the steam reformation the first partial stream is again combined with the second partial stream, and wherein the combined gas stream is supplied to an autothermal reformer in which the combined gas stream together with an oxygen-containing gas is autothermally reformed to a synthesis gas. The first partial stream is guided directly into the steam reformer and the second partial stream is guided through a pre-reformer before passing through the autothermal reformer.