Process and plant for the production of methanol

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of methanol from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: 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; recovering from the reforming zone a synthesis gas mixture comprising carbon oxides, hydrogen and methane; supplying material of the synthesis gas mixture to a methanol synthesis zone charged with a methanol synthesis catalyst and maintained under methanol synthesis conditions; recovering from the methanol synthesis zone a product gas mixture comprising methanol and unreacted material of the synthesis gas mixture; supplying material of the product gas mixture to a methanol recovery zone maintained under methanol recovery conditions; recovering from the methanol recovery zone a crude methanol product stream and a vaporous steam comprising unreacted material of the synthesis gas mixture; separating material of the synthesis gas mixture into a first hydrogen-rich stream and a second hydrogen-depleted stream comprising carbon oxides and methane; supplying at least part of the first hydrogen-rich stream to the steam reforming zone as fuel; and recycling at least part of the second hydrogen-depleted stream to the steam reforming zone to form part of the mixture of the vaporous mixture comprising the feedstock and steam and to a plant constructed and arranged so as to be operable in accordance with the process.