LIQUEFACTION OF NATURAL GAS TO METHANOL FOR SHIPPING AND STORAGE.

A radically new methanol synthesis process has been conceived at Brookhaven National Laboratory and a research program has shown the expected operating characteristic of the expected process. To assess the economic viability of this BNL methanol synthesis, a complete process plant was designed using the research data on the process. The results show that the methanol process plant using the Brookhaven system designed for a production rate of 3,000 metric tons per stream day requires an investment that is 50% of the investment for a conventional methanol synthesis using an up-to-date, improved design, and about 70% of an LNG plant delivering the same amount of energy.