Process for the manufacture of substitution gas (SNG) from methanol or a methanol/synthesis gas mixture

摘要

The present invention relates to a catalytic process for the manufacture of a gas rich in methane from methanol alone or from a methanol/synthesis gas (CO + H2) mixture. The process uses a stationary bed of catalyst 12 through which the reactants and a liquid coolant fluid pass from the top downwards. The processing takes place at a temperature from 200 to 400 DEG , under a pressure of 0.5 to 20 MPa, at a volumetric rate of the reactants of 500 to 20,000 h<-1> and at a volumetric rate of the liquid coolant of 50 to 1,000 h<-1>. The separation of the liquid and gaseous compounds is carried out at the bottom of the reactor 11. The liquid coolant is recycled 13 after heat exchange 16 at the reactor head. The steam after condensation 19 is separated from the other gaseous products 21 which are purified 24 and fractionated. The methane is collected 27. <IMAGE>