Patent ID: 7144923

Claim:
A process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising the steps of: passing a preheated synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides at an elevated pressure through at least one uncooled fixed bed of a methanol synthesis catalyst wherein methanol synthesis is effected adiabatically, cooling the resultant partially reacted synthesis gas by heat exchange with a coolant after passage through each bed, passing the resultant cooled partially reacted synthesis gas through a fixed bed of a methanol synthesis catalyst disposed in a heat exchange reactor having tubes disposed therein through which a coolant is passed in a direction that is co-current with the flow of the partially reacted synthesis gas through the catalyst bed of said heat exchange reactor whereby further methanol synthesis is effected and the coolant is heated, cooling the resultant reacted synthesis gas to below the dew point of the methanol therein and separating methanol leaving a stream of unreacted gas, passing part of said unreacted gas, together with make-up gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides, through said tubes as the coolant of said heat exchange reactor thereby producing the preheated synthesis gas to be fed to said at least one uncooled fixed bed of methanol synthesis catalyst.