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Bimodal acetic acid manufacture

  • US 6,531,630 B2
  • Filed: 12/29/2000
  • Issued: 03/11/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for converting an original methanol plant to a converted plant having bimodal operation, the method comprising the steps of:

  • providing the original methanol plant having at least one steam reformer for converting a hydrocarbon to a syngas stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and a methanol synthesis loop for converting hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the syngas stream to methanol;

    providing for selectively supplying a gaseous feed to the at least one steam reformer, wherein in a first mode the gaseous feed is a hydrocarbon and in a second mode the gaseous feed is a vaporized lower alkanol;

    installing a vaporizer for vaporizing a lower alkanol from an imported source into the vaporized lower alkanol;

    loading the at least one steam reformer with a hydrocarbon reformation catalyst for syngas generation;

    installing a separation unit for separating all or part of the syngas stream into respective streams rich in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen;

    providing for diverting all or part of the syngas stream originally fed to the methanol synthesis loop to the separation unit;

    providing for supplying at least a portion of the carbon dioxide-rich stream to the at least one steam reformer, to the methanol synthesis loop, or to a combination thereof;

    installing isolation valves for isolating the methanol synthesis loop from the remainder of the converted plant when operated in the second mode;

    installing a reactor for reacting carbon-monoxide and methanol to form a product selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, methyl formate, methyl acetate and combinations thereof;

    providing for supplying at least a portion of the carbon monoxide-rich stream from the separation unit to the reactor; and

    providing for selectively supplying a methanol stream to the reactor in the first mode from the methanol synthesis loop and in the second mode from an imported source.

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