Patent ID: 7867465

Claim:
A method for making ammonia, comprising: supplying nitrogen and hydrogen to a reaction zone, the reaction zone disposed inside an inner shell and the inner shell disposed inside an outer shell such that a space is formed therebetween, wherein the reaction zone comprises at least one catalyst bed comprising at least one catalyst in indirect heat exchange with the space; reacting the nitrogen and hydrogen in the reaction zone to form an effluent comprising ammonia; recovering the effluent from the inner shell; cooling the recovered effluent to provide an NH 3 -comprising cooled effluent stream; supplying a cooling fluid to the outer shell such that the cooling fluid flows through at least a portion of the space and is in fluid communication with the exterior of the inner shell; wherein at least a portion of the NH 3 -comprising cooled effluent provides at least a portion of the cooling fluid; and recovering the cooling fluid at an outlet fluidly connected to the outer shell as an ammonia product.