Patent ID: 6794418
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: C01B,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for increasing production in an existing process plant for converting natural gas to a product, comprising:converting the natural gas into a synthesis gas in a synthesis gas section, the synthesis gas being reacted in a reactor for synthesis of the product; separating non-converted synthesis gas and product into a product-rich stream and a product poor stream; removing the product-rich stream from the process; recycling the product-poor stream as feed in a recycle loop to the reactor together with make-up synthesis gas; removing a portion of the recycle stream from the recycle loop as a purge gas; separating the purge gas into a hydrogen-rich stream and a hydrogen-poor stream, the hydrogen-rich stream being introduced into the process plant where it is desirable to have a supplement of hydrogen; and feeding the synthesis gas with the hydrogen-rich stream as a hydrogen-enriched synthesis gas from the separated purge gas, the hydrogen-enriched synthesis gas being passed through a once-through reactor for production of the product and through a unit in order to separate the product-rich stream and the product-poor stream.