METHANOL PRODUCTION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: industrial organic synthesis. SUBSTANCE: process comprises passing preheated to 300-500 C natural gas free of drops and solid disperse impurities at pressure 10 to 100 atm into mixer of the first reaction zone of reactor simultaneously with oxygen-containing gas, optionally air, passed at 40-50 C and pressure 10 to 100 atm; stirring in turbulent mode gases in mixer; and oxidation therein at 370-470 C and oxygen concentration no higher than 1.5 vol % for a period of time between 0.2 and 10 sec; whereupon gases are stirred in turbulent mode in the second reaction zone mixer and subjected to oxidation with oxygen-containing gas fed into the second reaction zone mixer for a period of time between 0.2 and 10 sec at t 370-470 C. Process is effected while uniformly heating gases to reaction temperature and simultaneously performing consecutive stirring in the two reaction zones, after which reaction mixture leaving the second reaction zone is cooled in recuperative heat exchanger by natural gas. More specifically, in the first and second reaction zones, gas stream passes through inert porous filler disposed in reaction zones at oxygen concentration in the second reaction zone 2 to 12 vol %, whereas passage time through inert porous filler is superior to diffusion time of reaction products moving toward developed internal surface of filler, gas streams in reaction zones being created by countercurrent flows, which provides continuous heat exchange through walls of reaction zone side surfaces. Production of methanol is used in natural gas production. EFFECT: increased selectivity of process and conversion of methane per one reactor passage and thereby insured continuity of hydrate-free mode of gas production owing to continuous production of methanol and continuous injection thereof into natural gas pool. 5 cl, 1 dwg