Joseph R. Leblanc
Engineering at Lk Vlg Dr, Fulshear, TX
License number
Louisiana PE.0007928
Issued Date
Jun 13, 1961
Expiration Date
Mar 31, 2002
Category
Civil Engineer
Address
Address
4643 Lake Village Dr, Fulshear, TX 77441
Professional information
Ammonia Production With Enriched Air Reforming And Nitrogen Injection Into The Synthesis Loop
US Patent:
5736116, Apr 7, 1998
Filed:
Oct 25, 1995
Appl. No.:
8/547853
Inventors:
Joseph Ray LeBlanc - Fulshear TX
Stan A. Knez - Houston TX
Stan A. Knez - Houston TX
Assignee:
The M. W. Kellogg Company - Houston TX
International Classification:
C01C 104
US Classification:
423359
Abstract:
A retrofit method for increasing production capacity of an ammonia plant having a front end including in series primary and secondary reformers and a shift converter for reacting a hydrocarbon feed, steam and air to form a make-up syngas stream comprising hydrogen and nitrogen at about design stoichiometry, and a synthesis loop wherein a recycle syngas stream is combined with the make-up gas to form a syngas feed to ammonia converters. The retrofit involves the installation of an air separation unit to supply oxygen and nitrogen streams. The oxygen is used to enrich air supplied to the secondary reformer and increase the hydrogen content of the make-up gas substantially above the design stoichiometry and capacity. The nitrogen stream is supplied to the synthesis loop to obtain a desired hydrogen to nitrogen ratio in the syngas feed to the ammonia converters and compensate for the excess hydrogen in the make-up gas. The synthesis loop, if desired, is upgraded to include a high activity catalyst converter for increased ammonia production.