Process for the production of ammonia and the corresponding synthesis gas

Patent · Tue Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5861732

Banquy, D L

A process to produce ammonia from a hydrocarbon feedstock involves basically the following steps: dividing the feedstock into two fractions, subjecting the first fraction to a primary steam reforming reaction at high pressure and moderate temperature, combining the effluent from the primary reforming with the second fraction of the feedstock, and subjecting the mixture thereof to a secondary adiabatic reforming reaction with an amount of air in excess to that needed for ammonia synthesis, subjecting the synthesis gas produced to a CO shift conversion reaction, and then to CO/sub 2/ removal by solvent scrubbing. The gas released by pressure letdown of said solvent is preferably recycled back upstream of the secondary reforming. Methanation of the residual carbon oxides is accomplished and the excess nitrogen present in the gas is removed by cryogenic separation. The final synthesis gas is compressed and fed into an ammonia synthesis loop, and the purge gas from said ammonia synthesis loop is recycled to upstream of the cryogenic separation.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-82-038087
• Patent Number(s): US 4296085
• OSTI ID: 5861732
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090121 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
090320* -- Inorganic Hydrogen Compound Fuels-- Preparation-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENICS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METHANATION
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
RECYCLING
SCRUBBING
SYNTHESIS GAS