PROCESSING OF NATURAL GAS TO PRODUCE METHANOL Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: natural gas technology. SUBSTANCE: invention is intended for application at chemical and petrochemical enterprises producing synthetic alcohols, in particular, methanol and is distinguished by that methanol production process comprises steam-oxygen conversion of natural gas, utilization of synthesis-gas heat, partial removal of carbon dioxide from synthesis-gas, drying, compression to 8.5-9.0 MPa, and synthesis of methanol on low- temperature catalyst in two steps: preliminary flow step and main circulation step. Preliminary synthesis step is performed before drying and compression in steam-oxygen conversion stage, followed by main synthesis step. Drying of synthesis-gas is accompanied by separation of water-methanol fraction. Preliminary synthesis is carried out on copper- containing catalyst at volume velocity 2000-6500 hr^-1. EFFECT: enabled energy-saving technology. 3 cl, 3 ex