Process and plant for the production of methanol

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the production of methanol from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising; a) contacting a vaporous mixture comprising the feedstock and steam in a steam reforming zone with a catalyst effective for catalysis of at least one reforming reaction; b) recovering from the reforming zone a synthesis gas mixture comprising carbon oxides and hydrogen; c) supplying the synthesis gas mixture to a methanol synthesis zone charged with a methanol synthesis catalyst and maintained under methanol synthesis conditions; d) recovering from the methanol synthesis zone a product gas mixture comprising methanol, carbon oxides and hydrogen; e) supplying the product gas mixture to a methanol recovery zone maintained under methanol recovery conditions; f) recovering from the methanol recovery zone a crude methanol product stream and a vaporous stream comprising carbon oxides and hydrogen; g) separating the vaporous stream of step f) into a first hydrogen-rich stream and a second carbon oxide-rich stream; h) supplying at least part of the first hydrogen-rich stream to the steam reforming zone as fuel; and i) recycling at least part of the second carbon oxide-rich stream to the steam reforming zone to form part of the mixture of step a); and to a plant constructed and arranged so as to be operable in accordance with the process.