Patent ID: 9115045
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: C01B,C07C

Abstract:
1. A method for producing methanol comprising the steps of: producing a first stream of synthesis gas in a steam methane reformer and/or autothermal reformer by reforming a first hydrocarbon feed stream and a source of steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst; producing a second stream of synthesis gas in an oxygen transport membrane based reforming system comprising oxygen transport membrane elements by reforming a combined feed stream in the presence of a reforming catalyst and radiant heat generated from the reaction of a hydrogen containing stream contacting a permeate side of said oxygen transport membrane elements and an oxygen permeate produced by the oxygen transport membrane elements from a heated oxygen containing feed stream, the reaction producing a reaction product stream comprising oxidation products, an oxygen depleted retentate stream, and radiant heat, wherein the combined feed stream comprises a second hydrocarbon feed stream, the reaction product stream, and steam; combining the first stream of synthesis gas and the second stream of synthesis gas to form a combined synthesis gas product stream; directing the combined synthesis gas product stream to a methanol synthesis reactor; synthesizing the combined synthesis gas product stream into crude methanol; recovering excess hydrogen and methane slip during the methanol synthesis; recycling a portion of the excess hydrogen and methane slip recovered during the methanol synthesis to the oxygen transport membrane based reforming system; and purifying the crude methanol to a finished methanol product.