Process for treating gases in the ammonia synthesis

• US 4,055,627 A
• Filed: 11/13/1970
• Issued: 10/25/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mario Guadalupi
• Original Assignee: Mario Guadalupi
• Inventors: Guadalupi, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, G. O.
• Application Number:
  US05/089,343
• Time in Patent Office: 2,538 Days
• Field of Search: 23/61, 23/198, 23/199
• US Class Current: 423/359
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/0464 by absorption in liquids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/0488 Processes integrated with preparations of other compounds, e.g. methanol, urea or with processes for power generation
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 3/0204 from formamide or from ammonium formate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

In the synthesis of ammonia, a process is disclosed for treating the gases flowing from the synthesis reactor wherein those gases flow through a film absorber countercurrent to a cooled aqueous film to extract ammonia which is withdrawn as a strong solution from the absorber and scrubbed gases are combined for recycle with a stream of fresh feed which is then dehydrated by injecting liquid ammonia into the stream so that it rapidly expands and condenses the water vapor therein, and the dried gases are thereafter fed to the synthesis reactor.

Claims

1. A process for treating the effluent gases from an ammonia synthesis reactor and for recycling such gases with fresh gases to such reactor comprising the following steps:

absorbing ammonia contained in the effluent gases discharged from the synthesis reactor in the liquid film of a film absorber and obtaining a strong ammonia solution;

blending the effluent gases discharged from said liquid film absorber with fresh gases for feed to said reactor into a heat exchanger and condensing the water contained in the blended effluent and fresh gases;

removing the condensed water from said heat exchange as a weak ammonia solution;

injecting liquid ammonia into gases discharged from said heat exchanger;

feeding said discharged gases with said liquid ammonia injected therein into a separator and separating from said feed in said separator cooled dry gases and a strong solution of ammonia;

feeding said cooled dry gases from said separator into said heat exchanger to cool and condense the water in the blended effluent and fresh gases being fed into said heat exchanger; and

feeding said blended effluent and fresh gases, after the water contained therein has been condensed, from said heat exchanger to said ammonia synthesis reactor.

2. A process according to claim 1, in which the effluent gases discharged from the synthesis reactor are fed in countercurrent flow through the tubes of a vertical tube exchanger with a liquid flim flowing downwardly in such tubes, said downwardly flowing liquid film absorbing ammonia from said countercurrent flowing effluent gases.

3. A process according to claim 2, in which the heat of absorption of said ammonia from said effluent gases into said liquid film in said vertical tube exchanger is removed by passing a cooling liquid through the shell of said exchanger.

4. A process according to claim 1, in which said liquid ammonia is injected into said gases discharged from said heat exchanger and by adiabatic evaporation causes a cooling of said solution and the dry gases separated therefrom in said separator.

5. A process according to claim 3, in which said liquid ammonia is injected into said gases discharged from said heat exchanger by adiabatic evaporation and causes a cooling of said solution and the dry gases separated therefrom in said separator.

6. A process according to claim 4 in which said cooled dry gases discharged from said separator are fed into said heat exchanger and flow in said heat exchanger in countercurrent flow to the blended effluent and fresh gases therein.

7. A process according to claim 5 in which said cooled dry gases discharged from said separator are fed into said heat exchanger and flow in said heat exchanger in countercurrent flow to the blended effluent and fresh gases therein.

8. A process according to claim 1 in which said liquid ammonia injected into said gases discharged from said heat exchanger is the strong ammonia solution obtained from said film absorber.

9. A process according to claim 7 in which the residual water content of the dried blended effluent and fresh gases fed from said heat exchanger is not higher than 2 to 3 ppm.

10. A process according to claim 1 in which the residual ammonia content of the effluent gases discharged from said liquid film absorber is from 0.2 to 0.5% by mole.

11. A process according to claim 1 in which the liquid ammonia injected into said gases discharged from said heat exchanger is injected through a venturi so that the turbulence and contact surface between the liquid ammonia and gases is increased.

12. A process according to claim 1 in which the process for treating the effluent gases from the ammonia synthesis reactor and for recycling such gases with fresh gases to such reactor is performed at pressures from 30 to 300 kg/cm².

13. A process according to claim 12 in which the process is performed at pressures from 80 to 150 Kg/cm².