Method for increasing the production in an existing processing plant and a processing plant

Abstract

A method of increasing the production in an existing process plant for converting natural gas into a product, where the natural gas is first converted to a synthesis gas in a synthesis gas section, the synthesis gas is brought to reaction in a reactor for synthesis of the product, where non-converted synthesis gas and product are separated into two streams, where a product-rich stream is taken off the process, while a product-poor stream is re-circulated back as feed to the reactor together with fresh synthesis gas, and where part of the re-circulating stream is taken off the re-circulation loop as a purge gas, where the purge gas is separated into hydrogen-rich and hydrogen-poor streams, where hydrogen-rich streams are introduced in stages of the process where addition of hydrogen is desirable, and where the residual thermal value of the hydrogen-poor stream may be used for heating prior to the stream being discharged, wherein the synthesis gas from the synthesis gas section receives a hydrogen-rich stream from the separated purge gas, and that this hydrogen enriched synthesis gas is passed through a new flow reactor for production of product, and also a unit for separating a product-rich stream that is taken off, and a product-poor stream used as feed to the original reactor, and that the product-poor stream, which is used as feed to the original reactor, receives additional synthesis gas produced in a separate secondary synthesis gas line, is described. Additionally, a process plant for carrying out the method is described.