Patent ID: 6736955
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: C01B,C07C,F25J,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the production of methanol comprising:(a) feeding an amount of a hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor at a first pressure to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; (b) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen and recovering at least a portion of the hydrogen to produce a hydrogen stream; (c) adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock, at least a portion of which is obtained from the hydrogen stream, to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide; (d) subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis at a pressure higher than the first pressure to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream; (e) 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, (f) recycling the recycle stream to the partial oxidation reactor.