US 11,286,168 C1 (246th)
Process for the synthesis of ammonia with low emissions of CO2IN atmosphere
Francesco Baratto, Como (IT); and Raffaele Ostuni, Lugano (CH)
Filed by CASALE SA, Lugano (CH)
Assigned to CASALE SA, Lugano (CH)
Supplemental Examination Request No. 96/000,424, Apr. 26, 2023.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 11,286,168, issued Mar. 29, 2022, Appl. No. 16/485,695, Aug. 13, 2019.
PCT Filed Jan. 31, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/052358
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 13, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/149641, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 17156256 (EP), filed on Feb. 17, 2017; and application No. 17195305 (EP), filed on Oct. 6, 2017.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate from Reexamination Ordered under 35 U.S.C. 257 issued on Jul. 16, 2024.
Int. Cl. C01C 1/04 (2006.01); C01B 3/02 (2006.01); C01B 3/48 (2006.01)
CPC C01C 1/04 (2013.01) [C01B 3/025 (2013.01); C01B 3/48 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0244 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0283 (2013.01); C01B 2203/042 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0445 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0475 (2013.01); C01B 2203/068 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1241 (2013.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
Claims 20-23 are cancelled.
Claims 1, 10 and 19 are determined to be patentable as amended.
Claims 2-9 and 11-18, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.
1. A process for synthesis of ammonia from natural gas, the process comprising:
conversion of a charge of desulphurized natural gas and steam, with oxygen-enriched air or with oxygen, into a synthesis gas containing hydrogen, CO and CO2, in a conversion section [ including an autothermal reformer downstream from a pre-reformer and without a primary reformer therebetween] ;
treatment of said synthesis gas including at least a shift reaction of the carbon monoxide into CO2, and subsequent separation of CO2 from the gas, thus obtaining a CO2-depleted synthesis gas and a CO2-rich gaseous flow containing the CO2 separated from the gas;
separation of a part of said CO2-depleted synthesis gas as fuel fraction, wherein said fuel fraction is fed as fuel to at least one furnace and wherein said separation of the fuel fraction includes the split of said CO2-depleted synthesis gas into at least a first stream and a second stream, said first and second streams having the same composition, wherein the first stream forms the fuel fraction and the second stream is process gas intended for the synthesis of ammonia.
10. The process of claim 1, wherein said fuel fraction of the synthesis gas feeds one or more of the following apparatuses: a steam production and/or superheating furnace; one or more burners of a primary steam reformer; or one or more furnaces for pre-heating the charge of an [ the ] autothermal reformer or partial oxidation reactor or natural-gas desulphurization section.
19. The process of claim 1, wherein:
the conversion of the natural gas charge into synthesis gas includes a step of autothermal reforming, or a step of partial oxidation;
said step of autothermal reforming or partial oxidation [ conversion of the charge of desulphurized natural gas and steam into the synthesis gas in the autothermal reformer ] is performed with a steam/carbon ratio not greater than 2.