Co-production of methanol and ammonia

1. Process for co-producing methanol and ammonia from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the sequential steps of:

(a) producing a methanol synthesis gas containing hydrogen, carbon oxides and nitrogen by steam reforming the hydrocarbon feedstock in a primary reforming stage and subsequently in an air-blown secondary reforming stage;

(b) splitting the methanol synthesis gas into a first methanol synthesis gas stream containing 1-50 vol % of the methanol synthesis gas and a second methanol synthesis gas stream containing 50-99 vol % of the methanol synthesis gas stream, forming a first methanol synthesis gas stream with reduced content of carbon dioxide by passing the first methanol synthesis gas stream through a CO 2 Pressure Swing Adsorption (CO 2 PSA) while bypassing the second methanol synthesis gas stream, withdrawing an off-gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane from the CO 2 Pressure Swing Adsorption, and forming a combined methanol synthesis gas by mixing the first methanol stream with reduced content of carbon dioxide with the by-passed second methanol synthesis stream;

(c) catalytically converting the carbon oxides and hydrogen of the combined methanol synthesis gas in a once-through methanol synthesis stage and withdrawing an effluent containing methanol and a gas effluent containing nitrogen, hydrogen and unconverted carbon oxides;

(d) producing an ammonia synthesis gas by methanation of unconverted carbon oxides of the gas effluent of step (c) in a catalytic methanation stage and withdrawing an ammonia synthesis gas having a H 2 :N 2 molar ratio of 3:1 without the use of water gas shift and without further use of carbon dioxide removal;

(e) catalytically converting the nitrogen and hydrogen of the ammonia synthesis gas in an ammonia synthesis stage and withdrawing an effluent containing ammonia and an off-gas stream containing hydrogen, nitrogen and methane.

2. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is natural gas or substitute natural gas (SNG).

3. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the methanol synthesis stage in step (c) is conducted by passing the synthesis gas through one boiling water reactor and subsequently through an adiabatic fixed bed reactor, or by passing the synthesis gas through a series of boiling water reactors and subsequently through an adiabatic fixed bed reactor.

4. Process according to claim 3 , wherein the boiling water reactor is in the form of a single reactor of the condensing-methanol type, which comprises within a common shell a fixed bed of methanol catalyst particles and cooling means adapted to indirectly cooling the methanol synthesis gas with a cooling agent.

5. Process according to claim 3 further comprising cooling the synthesis gas withdrawn from each methanol reactor to condense methanol and passing the gas through a separator, withdrawing a bottom fraction from the separator containing the raw methanol, withdrawing an overhead fraction containing synthesis gas which is passed to the subsequent methanol reactor, and forming a single liquid effluent containing methanol by combining the bottom fractions of the separators of each reactor containing the raw methanol.

6. Process according to claim 1 further comprising withdrawing a hydrogen-rich stream from the ammonia synthesis stage and adding this stream to step (c).

7. Process according to claim 1 , in which the off-gas stream containing hydrogen, nitrogen and methane of step (e) is returned to step (a).

8. Process according to claim 1 , in which the off-gas stream of step (b) is returned to step (a).

9. Process according to claim 1 , in which the first methanol synthesis gas stream contains 10-20 vol % of the methanol synthesis gas and a second methanol synthesis gas stream contains 80-90 vol % of the methanol synthesis gas stream.