Systems and methods for integrated ammonia-urea process

Abstract

Systems and methods for producing urea are provided. A method for producing urea can include exchanging heat from a syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide to a urea solution comprising urea and ammonium carbamate. The heat transferred can be sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the ammonium carbamate. In one or more embodiments, the syngas can be reacted with liquid ammonia to provide a carbon dioxide lean syngas and an ammonium carbamate solution. The ammonium carbamate solution can be heated to a temperature of about 180° C. or more. At least a portion of the ammonium carbamate in the heated ammonium carbamate solution can be dehydrated to provide the urea solution.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]The present embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for producing ammonia and urea. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for the integrated production of ammonia and urea.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Urea is synthesized by reacting ammonia and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form ammonium carbamate, which is subsequently dehydrated by applying heat to form urea and water. The reaction of ammonia and carbon dioxide to form urea involve the following equilibrium reactions:2NH3+CO2NH4CO2NH2 (ammonium carbamate, exothermic)NH4CO2NH2H2O+NH2CONH2 (urea, endothermic)[0005]The first reaction producing ammonium carbamate is an exothermic reaction and essentially goes to completion. The second reaction for producing urea is endothermic and does not go to completion. The conversion of ammonium carbamate to urea increases as the temperature and NH3 / CO2 ratio increase and decreases as th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the present ammonia and urea integration schemes, while seemingly attractive, have serious disadvantages.

For example, a number pieces of equipment used in the urea production section must be operated at high pressures and temperatures, shutdown of the urea section can necessitate shutdown of the ammonia section, a large amount of energy in the form of heat (e.g. steam) and pressure (e.g. compressors) are required to operate the urea section, and other economically negative impacts are present.

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