Patent ID: 7148261

Claim:
A process for producing methanol comprising: (a) steam reforming a hydrocarbon in a reforming zone, and during the reforming stage, of a cyclic steam reformer having a reforming stage and a regeneration stage, said steam reforming being conducted under conditions effective to produce a first effluent stream containing synthesis gas; (b) combusting fuel and an oxygen-containing gas in the regeneration stage of the reformer so as to reheat said reforming zone to a temperature sufficient for the reforming stage and generate a flue gas; (c) contacting at least part of the synthesis gas in said first effluent stream with a methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions effective to convert said synthesis gas to methanol and form a methanol-containing stream and a tail gas stream comprising unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and (d) recycling at least part of said tail gas stream as fuel for the regeneration stage of said cyclic steam reformer.