Ammonia synthesis

Patent · Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6127084

Mandelik, B G; Cassata, J R; Katy, P J.S.; Van Dijk, C P

In a process for producing ammonia in a synthesis loop in which fresh synthesis gas containing hydrogen, nitrogen and, lesser amounts of argon and methane is combined with a hydrogen enriched recycle gas to provide combined synthesis gas, the combined synthesis is introduced to and reacted over ammonia synthesis catalyst under synthesis conditions to provide converted gas containing ammonia, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The ammonia is recovered from the converted gas to provide recycle gas, and a purge stream is removed from the synthesis loop. A hydrogen-rich gas is recovered from the purge stream, and the hydrogen-rich gas is combined with the recycle gas to provide the hydrogen enriched gas. The improvement described in this patent consists of (a) providing the fresh synthesis gas at a hydrogen to nitrogen molar ratio between 1.7 and 2.5 and providing the hydrogen enriched recycle gas at a hydrogen to nitrogen molar ratio between 0.5 and 1.7 to provide the combined synthesis gas at a hydrogen to nitrogen molar ratio between 0.8 and 1.8. The volumetric flow rate ratio of the hydrogen enriched recycle gas to the fresh synthesis gas is between 2.2 and 3.7; and (b) introducing the combined synthesis gas from step (a) to an ammonia synthesis catalyst at a temperature between 315/sup 0/C. and 400/sup 0/C. and a pressure between 50 kg/cm/sup 2/ and 150 kg/cm/sup 2/.

• Assignee: The M.W. Kellogg Co., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4568530
• OSTI ID: 6127084
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 16 Oct 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
ARGON
EXHAUST GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
METHANE
NITROGEN
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
QUANTITY RATIO
RECYCLING
SYNTHESIS GAS
ALKANES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SYNTHESIS
WASTES
090320* - Inorganic Hydrogen Compound Fuels- Preparation- (1976-1989)