Patent ID: 7799834

Claim:
A process for producing methanol, comprising the steps of: providing a synthesis gas stream comprising H 2 , CO, and CO 2 , and N 2 ; wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises at least about 6 mole % N 2 and wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises H 2 , CO, and CO 2 in a ratio of (H 2 —CO 2 )/(CO 2 +CO), which is less than about 1.80; combining the synthesis gas stream with a hydrogen-rich gas stream to form a makeup gas stream; combining the makeup gas stream with a recycle gas stream to produce a reactor feed stream; introducing the reactor feed stream into a reactor system containing a methanol conversion catalyst; wherein a portion of the reactor feed stream is converted to methanol; withdrawing a reacted gas stream from the reactor system; separating the reacted gas stream into a crude methanol product stream and a gas stream; splitting the gas stream into a recycle gas stream and a purge gas stream; mixing the recycle gas stream with the makeup gas stream to form the reactor feed stream; separating the purge gas stream into a fuel gas stream comprising CH 4 and N 2 and a hydrogen-rich stream comprising H 2 ; and mixing the hydrogen-rich stream into the synthesis gas stream.