Patent ID: 6599491
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: C01B,C01C,C07C,F25J,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for converting an original methanol plant to a converted plant, the method comprising the steps of:providing the original methanol plant having at least one steam reformer for converting a hydrocarbon to a syngas stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and a methanol synthesis loop for converting hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the syngas stream to methanol; providing for supplying a gaseous feed to the at least one steam reformer, wherein the gaseous feed is a vaporized lower alkanol; installing a vaporizer for vaporizing a lower alkanol from an imported source into the vaporized lower alkanol; loading the at least one steam reformer with a reformation catalyst for syngas generation selected from hydrocarbon reformation catalyst, methanol reformation catalyst and a combination thereof; installing a separation unit for separating the syngas stream into respective streams rich in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; providing for diverting the syngas stream originally fed to the methanol synthesis loop to the separation unit; providing for supplying at least a portion of the carbon monoxide-rich stream to the at least one steam reformer upstream of an optional shift converter; installing isolation valves for isolating the methanol synthesis loop from the remainder of the converted plant.