Patent ID: 7871449

Claim:
A process for recovering energy from a hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream comprising: a. providing a first heat exchanger having at least four separate flow circuits; b. supplying a first hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream to a first flow circuit of said first heat exchanger; c. supplying a first cool heat exchange medium to a second flow circuit of said first heat exchanger whereby said hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with said first cool heat exchange medium; d. feeding a second cool heat exchange medium to a third flow circuit of said first heat exchanger whereby said hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with said second cool heat exchange medium; e. feeding a third cool heat exchange medium to a fourth flow circuit of said first heat exchanger whereby said hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with said third cool heat exchange medium; f. removing a cooled hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream from said first heat exchanger; wherein said hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream flows horizontally through said first flow circuit of said first heat exchanger and if condensate is formed during cooling of said synthesis gas, the condensate can flow by gravity to the bottom of said first heat exchanger and can be removed there from separate from the removal of said cooled hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream, and wherein said hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream undergoes indirect heat exchange simultaneously with the first cool heat exchange medium and the third cool heat exchange medium, and said hot hydrogen-bearing synthesis gas stream undergoes indirect heat exchange simultaneously with the second cool heat exchange medium and the third cool heat exchange medium.