Abstract: A process and apparatus for the auto-thermal production of hydrogen rich synthesis gas wherein a mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon feed gas is reacted by passing through a catalyst counter-currently to the flow of the combustion reaction effluent of the process. Reaction tubes are mounted within a heat exchange chamber of the reactor and are adapted to contain catalyst to effect the reaction of the mixture. Oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is introduced into a combustion chamber within the reactor to effect combustion, and the combustion reaction effluent is passed through a second catalyst zone to provide additional reaction and is thereafter passed about the exterior of the reaction tubes to effect heat exchange with the mixture passing through the tubes. The exothermic heat of reaction from combustion thus provides the heat for the endothermic reaction occurring within the reaction tubes and within the second catalyst zone.

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: An improved process for making synthetic ammonia wherein a make-up synthesis gas is added to recycled unreacted gas from a catalytic conversion loop including the steps of introducing a volatile anti-icing compound into the hot make-up gas to vaporize the compound, cooling the gas and vaporized anti-icing compound to condense part of the anti-icing compound, separating the condensed anti-icing compound and dissolved impurities from the make-up gas, further cooling the make-up gas to a temperature at which the remaining anti-icing compound condenses essentially completely, separating the condensed remaining anti-icing compound from the make-up gas, mixing the resulting make-up gas at the low temperature with liquid ammonia to saturate the make-up gas with ammonia, separating unvaporized liquid ammonia from the saturated make-up gas, mixing the saturated make-up gas with recycle and passing the mixed gases directly to the catalytic ammonia synthesis converter.

Abstract: Ammonia synthesis gas is partially converted over iron-based synthesis catalyst, cooled, and further converted over a more active synthesis catalyst.

Abstract: A process for production of ammonia wherein stoichiometrically hydrogen-lean synthesis gas is reacted over a highly active synthesis catalyst.

Abstract: Purge gas removed from a first synthesis loop for conversion of synthesis gas to ammonia over an iron based synthesis catalyst is converted to ammonia over a more active synthesis catalyst in a second synthesis loop.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an improved process and apparatus for the production of gaseous products such as ammonia by catalytic, exothermic gaseous reactions and is specifically directed to an improved process which utilizes a gas-phase catalytic reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen for the synthesis of ammonia. This improved process for the production of ammonia utilizes an ammonia converter apparatus designed to comprise at least two catalyst stages and a reheat exchanger so arranged as to provide indirect heat exchange of the gaseous effluent from the last reactor catalyst stage with the effluent from at least one other reactor catalyst stage having a higher temperature level in order to reheat the effluent from the last reactor catalyst stage prior to exiting the reactor vessel, thereby facilitating higher level heat recovery from the reactor effluent.

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: Processes for carrying out catalytic exothermic and endothermic high-pressure gas reactions with a single-walled pressure vessel or shell containing cross-flow (e.g., radial flow) heat transfer exchangers, a continuous catalytic bed having at least two stages, and means for effecting "cross-over" material flows from "outside" to "inside" (for exothermic reactions) and vice versa (for endothermic reactions), whereby conditions of: maximum gas temperature always being in the core of said vessel or shell, minimal pressure drop, and minimal compression of catalyst particles are achieved, along with significant economic savings in cost of the pressure vessel or shell and catalyst (through extension of catalyst life).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved synthesis process and system for the production of ammonia. More specifically, the present invention involves the use of a split axial flow converter in the low pressure synthesis of ammonia.

Abstract: Control of the temperature of an ammonia synthesis reactor is accomplished so as to reduce temperature oscillations throughout the reactor. This allows the ammonia synthesis reactor to be operated close to the lowest stable operating temperature which results in optimal reactor performance. The temperature of the effluent flowing from the ammonia synthesis reactor is monitored to detect the presence of thermal waves. The temperature of the effluent flowing from the synthesis reactor is utilized to generate a correction term which is utilized in temperature control for the ammonia synthesis reactor to stabilize the operation of the ammonia synthesis reactor.

Abstract: An improved process for the synthesis of ammonia utilizing three catalyst beds wherein the temperature of the synthesis feed gas and the effluent of at least one of the catalyst beds is controlled without the addition of quench gas.

Abstract: An exothermic gas phase reaction, especially synthesis of ammonia or methanol, is carried out by passing the reactant gas over a catalyst in a first zone in heat exchange with a coolant and then in a second, adiabatic zone and then passing reacted gas directly to a heat recovery zone. Such a sequence of zones affords a higher output of product and better heat recovery than in many previously used sequences, especially when the heat available from the cooled zone is used to pre-heat reactant gas and the heat removed from the gas leaving the adiabatic zone is used in high-grade recoveries such as high pressure steam generation.

Abstract: An ammonia production process comprising synthesis gas generation and ammonia synthesis with heat recovery in the generation section by steam raising and steam superheating and heat recovery in the synthesis section by steam raising or boiler feed water heating is made more controllable by effecting part of the superheating in the synthesis section, so that a shut-down of the synthesis section results not only in a decrease in steam flow through the superheaters, but also in a decrease in the temperature of the steam fed to them. Thus overheating of the superheaters, a defect of some earlier processes, is avoided. The process is operated with a synthesis pressure under 150, preferably 40-80 bar abs. and preferably synthesis gas generation is based on primary hydrocarbon steam reforming at such a pressure that synthesis gas compression is by under 50%.

Abstract: Ammonia converter for radial flow through two catalyst beds has a central heat exchanger mounted centrally in one of the beds. The process stream of synthesis gas is obtained by combining inside the converter separate feed streams: a shell stream serving to cool the converter shell, an exchange stream serving to cool the central heat exchanger, and a by-pass stream for final adjustment of the temperature of the process stream. The process stream passes in succession radially through the first catalyst bed in inwards direction through the central heat exchanger for being cooled, and radially through the second catalyst bed.

Abstract: In a reactor suitable for gas-phase catalytic exothermic synthesis, in particular of ammonia or methanol the synthesis gas is reacted in an upstream adiabatic catalytic zone, is cooled in a heat exchanger and then reacted further in a downstream catalytic zone, whereafter preferably it is cooled again, suitably in a boiler or feed water heater, and reacted further in a further catalytic zone. The gas flow through the catalyst is mainly in an axial direction and the pressure drop is kept low by disposing the catalyst in each zone in a plurality of beds fed in parallel from an inlet header and delivered in parallel into an outlet header. The beds may be separately removable from the reactor to facilitate catalyst charging and discharging.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of ammonia is provided in which the ammonia production is optimized by an automatic control; a predetermined relationship between the equilibrium ammonia-concentration and the outlet ammonia-concentration is controlled; stable operation at a temperature near the temperature of maximum conversion is made possible thereby although the process conditions may vary.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a catalytic high pressure synthesis using gaseous reactants in the presence of a fused iron oxide catalyst, which comprises passing the gas through one or more layers of a catalyst which consists predominantly or entirely of particles of which the length of one spatial dimension is several times the length of at least one of the two other spatial dimensions perpendicular thereto, and at least one of the smaller spatial dimensions is less than 5 mm long, the catalyst being so arranged in one or more cylindrical catalyst beds, arranged in series in the direction of flow of the gas, that the particles are orientated with their longest spatial dimension substantially parallel to the direction of flow of he gas and a catalyst bed for carrying out the process.

Abstract: Exothermic reaction of a fluid stream is carried out with recycle and addition of hot reacted fluid to the colder feed fluid stream, so as to raise the feed fluid stream to operable reaction temperatures and produce optimum reaction rate. The addition of hot reacted fluid is carried out by reactor-internal ejector-effected aspiration of a portion of the hot reacted fluid discharged from the reaction zone into the cold feed fluid. The resulting combined fluid stream is passed to the reaction zone. The balance of the hot reacted fluid not aspirated into the cold feed fluid is passed to product recovery or utilization. The invention is especially applicable to exothermic catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A reactor for the catalytic synthesis of ammonia at high temperature and pressure from nitrogen and hydrogen wherein the intertubular spaces of the heat exchange zone are filled with metallic balls; the tubular spaces contain metal bars with square cross section; triple concentric tubes are present in the preheating and reaction zone to reach optimal temperature conditions; a demister is provided for the retention of oil at the entrance of the synthesis gas into the intertubular spaces of the heat-exchange zone; and a bag-shaped distribution chamber is provided between the reaction and preheating zone and the heat exchange zone.