Abstract: Improved design of a catalytic method and reactor for the production of methanol at equilibrium conditions, whereby methanol, as it is formed, is separated from the gaseous phase into the liquid phase within the reactor without reducing the catalytic activity of the methanol catalyst. This is achieved by adjusting the boiling point or temperature of a liquid cooling agent being in indirect contact with the catalyst particles and by providing a specific ratio of catalyst bed volume to cooling surface area. Thereby, condensation of methanol as it is formed in the gaseous phase takes place for the most at the cooling surface arranged evenly distributed within the reactor and if at all within a very limited region of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A process and system for producing high octane fuel from carbon dioxide and water is disclosed. The feedstock for the production line is industrial carbon dioxide and water, which may be of lower quality. The end product can be high octane gasoline, high cetane diesel or other liquid hydrocarbon mixtures suitable for driving conventional combustion engines or hydrocarbons suitable for further industrial processing or commercial use. Products, such as dimethyl ether or methanol may also be withdrawn from the production line. The process is nearly emission free and reprocesses all hydrocarbons not suitable for liquid fuel to form high octane products. The heat generated by exothermic reactions in the process is fully utilized as is the heat produced in the reprocessing of hydrocarbons not suitable for liquid fuel.

Abstract: A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor to produce a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream; separating the tail gas stream into at least two streams comprising a purge stream and a recycle stream, the recycle stream comprising a substantial portion of the tail gas stream; and, recycling the recycle stream to the partial oxidation reactor.

Abstract: For producing methanol from a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxides the synthesis gas is passed through a first, water-cooled reactor in which a part of the carbon oxides is catalytically converted to methanol. The resulting mixture containing synthesis gas and methanol vapor is supplied to a second, gas-cooled reactor in which a further part of the carbon oxides is converted to methanol. Subsequently, methanol is separated from the synthesis gas, and synthesis gas is recirculated to the first reactor. The cooling gas flows through the second reactor cocurrent to the mixture withdrawn from the first reactor.

Abstract: A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding an amount of a hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide; and, subjecting the synthesis gas stream to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream wherein reformation is not used to provide hydrogen as a product. Reformation may be used to consume hydrogen so that carbon dioxide preferably obtained as a by product of another process so that the instant process becomes effectively a temporary carbon sink to convert carbon dioxide, which would otherwise be released to the atmosphere, to a stored carbon source.

Abstract: SNG plants according to the inventive subject matter include one or more methanation reactors that produce a primary methanation product that is cooled to a temperature sufficient to condense water, which is removed in a separator. So produced dried methanation product is then split to provide a reflux stream to the methanation reactors and a feed stream to an adiabatic trim reactor. Most preferably, the plant comprises at least two methanation reactors that are operated in series, wherein the first reactor receives the recycle stream and wherein the second reactor receives a portion of the first methanation reactor effluent and a portion of the first methanation reactor feed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks into alcohols in the presence of a particulate catalyst.

Abstract: A method for causing chemical reactions between fluids, comprising the steps of arranging a plurality of metal sheets for providing first fluid flow channels adjacent to and in heat transfer contact with second fluid flow channels between adjacent ones of the metal sheets, placing catalyst material within at least some of the flow channels, passing a first fluid mixture through the first fluid flow channels and a second fluid mixture through the second fluid flow channels, wherein the first fluid mixture is different from the second fluid mixture, each fluid mixture undergoing separate reactions, one of the reactions being endothermic while the other reaction is exothermic, and causing heat to transfer between the adjacent fluid flow channels.

Abstract: Linear alpha olefins having from four to twenty carbon atoms and low amounts of oxygenates are synthesized, by producing a synthesis gas containing H2 and CO from natural gas and passing it over a non-shifting cobalt catalyst at reaction conditions of temperature, % CO conversion, and gas feed H2:CO mole ratio land water vapor pressure, effective for the mathematical expression 200−0.6T+0.03PH2O−0.6XCO−8(H2:CO) to have a numerical value greater than or equal to 50. This process can be integrated into a conventional Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process producing fuels and lubricant oils.

Abstract: Method for the production of methanol and hydrogen which comprises steam reforming a hydrocarbon-containing feed in a steam reforming zone to yield a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; introducing a first portion of the synthesis gas into a methanol synthesis zone to form methanol; reacting a second portion of the synthesis gas with steam to convert carbon monoxide to hydrogen and carbon dioxide to yield a shifted synthesis gas; cooling the shifted synthesis gas to yield a cooled shifted synthesis gas; separating the cooled shifted synthesis gas into a high-purity hydrogen product stream and a reject stream enriched in carbon dioxide; and introducing some or all of the reject stream into either or both of the steam reforming zone and the methanol synthesis zone.

Abstract: A process for extending the life of a Fisher-Tropsch catalyst in a process for converting synthesis gas produced in an autothermal reactor by the substoichiometric oxidation of a light hydrocarbon gas by removing ammonia from the synthesis gas prior to passing the synthesis gas to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor.

Abstract: A system for converting lighter hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons has a synthesis gas subsystem for receiving air and light hydrocarbons and producing a synthesis gas; a synthesis subsystem for receiving synthesis gas from the synthesis gas subsystem and producing heavier hydrocarbons therefrom and an aqueous byproduct stream having contaminates; and a stripper subsystem for receiving the aqueous byproduct stream and removing contaminates therefrom, wherein the stripper subsystem includes a concentrator column for concentrating contaminates in an aqueous by product stream, and a stripper column for stripping contaminates from a concentrated aqueous byproduct stream.

Abstract: A system for converting light hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons having a synthesis gas production unit and a hydrocarbon synthesis unit. For one application the synthesis gas production unit includes a turbine unit with a compression section, an autothermal reformer fluidly coupled to the compression section for producing synthesis gas and combusting at least a portion the gas therein, and an expansion section of the turbine unit fluidly coupled to the autothermal reformer for developing energy from the output of the autothermal reformer. A water separation unit is preferably fluidly coupled to the synthesis gas production unit for removing water from the synthesis gas. The water is directed to an oxygen/hydrogen separator to produce oxygen and hydrogen. Another water separation unit may also be coupled to the output from the hydrocarbon synthesis unit for removing water from the heavier hydrocarbons and directing the water to the oxygen/hydrogen separator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to a process for the production of methanol from synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen utilizing a three phase or liquid-phase reaction technology. The improvement to the process is the addition of relatively small amounts of water to the liquid-phase reactor thereby allowing for the use of a CO-rich synthesis gas for the production of methanol by effectuating in the same reactor the methanol synthesis and water-gas shift reactions. A portion of the unreacted synthesis gas stream from the liquid-phase reactor is separated into a hydrogen-rich component and a carbon monoxide-rich component.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved, simple and energy saving process for producing a gas containing methane, which process utilizes a reactor having a catalyst bed of a structure wherein a synthesis gas is allowed to pass perpendicularly to the longitudinal directions of a plurality of cooling tubes installed vertically within the catalyst bed. Within the cooling tubes, a liquid coolant at its boiling temperature is flowed upwardly under pressure. A portion of the reaction product gas leaving the catalyst bed is mixed, without cooling, with fresh feed gas and is recirculated to the catalyst bed. The amount of the recycled gas is less than 5 times the amount of fresh feed gas. The foregoing process produces a product gas containing methane from a feed gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: A process for producing methanol and ammonia by generating nitrogen-containing synthesis gas, reacting the carbon oxides and hydrogen incompletely to methanol and passing the unreacted gas to ammonia synthesis, is characterized by carrying out the methanol synthesis in a first, steam-free, stage and in a second stage in the presence of sufficient steam to convert to carbon dioxide substantially all the carbon monoxide not converted to methanol. Methanol can be taken from the systhesis stage as part of the product or can be recycled to that stage, thus limiting its methanol output.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a hydrocarbon mixture by contacting in a first stage a feed mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with an H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio of less than 1.0 with a trifunctional catalyst combination containing (a) at least one metal component having catalytic activity for conversions of a H.sub.2 /CO mixture into acyclic hydrocarbons, and/or acyclic oxygen-containing hydrocarbons, (b) at least one metal component for the conversion of an H.sub.2 O/CO mixture into an H.sub.2 /CO mixture, and (c) a certain crystalline silicate containing at least one trivalent metal selected from aluminum, iron, gallium, rhodium, chromium and scandium, wherein the molar ratio of the trivalent metal oxide to silica is less than 0.1; adjusting the H.sub.2 /CO molar to at least 1.5 by adding H.sub.2 O, if necessary; followed by contacting in a second stage at least the C.sub.