Hydrogen recovery in ammonia/methanol plant

    Hydrogen is the main material for ammonia synthesis process. To keep the partial pressure of hydrogen in the synthesis tower in order to get the reasonable reaction rate, the synthesis loop must be purged continuously to avoid build-up of inert gases (e.g.:  Ar+CH₄+N₂).

    When the syngas is used to produce methanol, the synthesis loop must be also purged continuously to avoid build-up of inert gases (Ar+CH₄+N₂). These purge gas typically contains 60-80% H₂.

Applications:

• Ammonia vent gas

• Methanol vent gas

• Syngas

Performance:

• H₂ recovery: > 90%

• H₂ purities: > 90 mol%

• CO purities: >95 mol%

• Control the ratio of H₂/CO

Operating characteristic:

• Max. operating temperature: up to 90°C

• Max. operating pressure differential: up to 90 barg

Scope of supply:

• Pretreatment

• H₂ Membrane unit

• PSA as post-treatment (upon request)

Standards:

• Pressure: ASME, BPVC VII Div1

• Electrical: IEC or NEC

• ISO 9001 certified process

• Hazardous (ATEX/Class Div2)

References:

Location: China

End user: Petrochina

Application: 450 kta/year Ammonia

Capacity: 46,000 Nm³/h

Feed pressure: 14.4 MPaG

Design pressure: 17 MPaG

H₂ recovery: ≥90%

H₂ purities: ≥93 mol%

 

Location: Middle East

Application: 2,050 MTPD Ammonia

Capacity: 32,000 Nm³/h

Feed pressure: 12.0 MPaG

Design pressure: 14.0 MPaG

H₂ recovery: ≥87.4%

H₂ purities: ≥95 mol%

 

Location: China

End user: Chinacoal

Application: 1 Mt/y Methanol

Capacity: 120,000 Nm³/h

Feed pressure: 8.0 MPaG

Design pressure: 10.0 MPaG

H₂ recovery: ≥85%