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 1472.    ---------------.  [HOLROYD, R.] I. G. Farbenindustrie A.-G. Works at Ludwigshafen and Oppau.  II-B.  Synthesis Gas Production – Pressure Operation of the Water-Gas Shift Reaction.  CIOS Rept. XXX-103, 1945, pp. 2-5, PB 23,750; Bureau of Mines Inf. Circ. 7,375, 1946, pp. 2-5; TOM Reel 197.

        There are 3 advantages in using the pressure process for CO conversions:  (1) Compression of the gases for removal of CO₂ is eliminated.  The saving from this source is greater when H₂ or NH₃—synthesis gas is the required product than when synthesis gas for MeOH or Fischer-Tropsch is being made.  (2) The equilibrium of the reaction CO+H₂O=CO₂+H₂ is unaffected, the volume of gas that can be treated is simply increased, and no change in reaction temperature or catalyst (91% Fe₂O₃+7% Cr₂O₃) is necessary.  (3) The makeup steam requirement is reduced from 400 gm. to 250 gm. per m.³ of inlet gas.  The potential disadvantage is corrosion owing to an increased concentration of dissolved CO₂, O₂, and S gases in the water.  This is combatted by using a 17% Cr steel where contact with the liquid water is made.  A description of the plant with diagrams is given.  A pressure of 12-30 atm. is used.  With a catalyst volume of 10 m.³, a 25-30 atm. pressure plant has a capacity of 25,000 m.³ per hr. of inlet gas, as compared with only 3,000 m.³ at atmospheric pressure.  This increase in unit capacity may not result in any reduction in capital cost per m.³ of synthesis gas product because special steels are required and a larger % spare capacity has to be installed.  For regular production of 100,000 m.³ per hr., 5 pressure units with a total capacity of 125,000 m.³ per hr. would have to be installed as against 11 atm. units with a total capacity of 110,000 m.³ per hr.  Not all of the 7 plants that have been installed have found the process satisfactory.  It is said that the output of the plant has been limited, corrosion troubles have been severe, and the life of the catalyst has been shortened by deposition of scale on it.