Intermediate reboiler for a methanol plant

摘要

A methanol refining column (128) and method using an intermediate reboiler (152) are disclosed. Use of the intermediate reboiler reduces methanol production energy requirements. A side stream (144,162) at or near a fusel oil take-off point is heated in an intermediate reboiler (152) by a low temperature heating medium (relative to a bottoms reboiler) and returned to the column at or near (166) the fusel oil take-off tray. The take-off tray is operated at 85-110 DEG C, and 70-90 percent of the reboiler duty is supplied through the intermediate reboiler. The remaining heat load is supplied by a bottoms steam reboiler. IMAGE