Method of obtaining improved equilibrium conditions and of

Abstract

A method of controlling the equilibrium conditions and of simultaneously producing steam under high pressure in the production of methanol by a reaction of oxides of carbon and of hydrogen-containing gases at temperatures of 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. under a pressure of 20 to 100 bars at a copper-containing catalyst, which is contained within the reactor in tubes, which are indirectly cooled by boiling water under pressure, wherein the resulting steam is withdrawn together with circulating water and is separated from the water, the water is recycled and the evaporated water is replaced by feed water. According to the invention the process is carried out in such a manner that a perforated thin intermediate bottom plate is provided in the reactor spaced 20 to 150 cm over the lower tube plate, the reactor is fed with the circulating water above that intermediate bottom and with feed water below that intermediate bottom, the gaseous reaction mixture is cooled by 20.degree. to 50.degree. C. in the lower part of the catalyst-filled tubes in a tube length of 20 to 150 cm, the feed water is heated in the reactor to temperatures of 230.degree. to 290.degree. C. with evaporation of part of the feed water, the resulting mixture of steam and circulating water is separated, the circulating water is recycled and the resulting high-pressure steam is withdrawn. In this method, steam under a pressure above 60 bars can be produced whereas only a pressure of 40 bars has been reached heretofore.