Patent ID: 7183328

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 a 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 said first effluent stream with a methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions effective to convert synthesis gas to methanol and form a methanol-containing stream and a tail gas stream comprising unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and (d) separating hydrogen from at least one of said first effluent stream and said tail gas stream and recycling at least part of said hydrogen as part of said fuel for the regeneration stage of said cyclic steam reformer.