A process for producing an ammonia synthesis gas, said process comprising the steps of: Reforming a hydrocarbon feed in a reforming step thereby obtaining a synthesis gas comprising CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 and H.sub.2O, Shifting the synthesis gas in one in or more shift steps in series, Optionally wash the synthesis gas leaving the shift section with water, Sending the process condensate originating from cooling and washing the synthesis gas leaving the shift section to a process condensate stripper wherein the dissolved shift byproducts and dissolved gases are stripped out of the process condensate using steam resulting in a steam stream containing more than 99% of the dissolved methanol in process condensate. Adding all or part of said steam stream from the process condensate stripper to the synthesis gas downstream the reforming step, prior to the last shift step, wherein The steam/carbon ratio in the reforming step and the shift step is less than 2.6.

A combined vessel comprises a stripping section for removing acid gases from a sour water stream and a direct contact heat exchanger section for heating a graywater stream in order to improve heat and mass transfer in the treatment and recycle of water streams for a gasification process.

The invention is directed to a method for recovering a lipid or hydrocarbon from a fermentation mixture, comprising the steps ofproviding a fermentation mixture wherein the lipid or hydrocarbon is produced by microbial fermentation in a fermentation vessel, which mixture comprises an aqueous phase and a liquid product phase, wherein the liquid product phase comprises the lipid or hydrocarbon; andfeeding at least part of the aqueous phase and part of the liquid product phase to a second vessel, thereby forming a second mixture; andpromoting phase-separation of the aqueous and product phase by injecting a gas into the second mixture, thereby separating the product phase from the aqueous phase; andcollecting the product phase comprising the lipid or hydrocarbon.

An evaporation system employs a thermocompressor to recover heat associated with a distillate produced by an evaporator and to use the recovered heat to preheat evaporator feedwater. In one example, the thermocompressor produces a thermocompressor discharge that is directed into the deaerator, contacting and preheating the evaporator feedwater passing therethrough. In another example, the thermocompressor discharge is directed through a barometric condenser which contacts evaporator feedwater therein and condenses and in the process preheats the evaporator feedwater.

A method for treating produced water or a feedwater stream with an evaporator. The feedwater stream or produced water is directed to and through a deaerator located upstream of the evaporator. Steam produced by the evaporator is utilized to strip dissolved gases from the produced water or feedwater stream passing through the deaerator. To efficiently strip dissolved gases, the vapor pressure in the deaerator is maintained at below atmospheric pressure and the produced water or feedwater stream is heated to a temperature greater than the saturated vapor temperature in the deaerator.

Disclosed are: a treatment method comprising (1) a step in which an aqueous solution containing urea, ammonia and carbon dioxide is introduced into a first stripper (PCS1) and subjected to stripping, and the aqueous solution after stripping is introduced into a urea hydrolyzer (UHY), (2) a step in which urea in the aqueous solution is hydrolyzed in the urea hydrolyzer (UHY), and the aqueous solution after hydrolysis is introduced into a second stripper (PCS2), (3) a step in which the aqueous solution is subjected to stripping in the second stripper (PCS2), and (4) a step in which a part of the aqueous solution before being stripped in the first stripper (PCS1), and/or, a part of the aqueous solution after being stripped in the first stripper (PCS1) but before being hydrolyzed in the urea hydrolyzer (UHY) is introduced into an exhaust gas treatment equipment equipped with an ammonia scrubbing equipment (ASCR); and a treatment equipment therefor.

A method for treating a urea aqueous solution includes a first stripping step of steam stripping an aqueous solution containing urea, ammonia and carbon dioxide at 0.2 to 0.6 MPaA in a first stripper to separate ammonia and carbon dioxide from this aqueous solution into a gas phase; a hydrolysis step of hydrolyzing urea in the solution obtained from the first stripping step at an LHSV of 10 to 20 h.sup.1, at 1.1 to 3.1 MPaA and 180 to 230 C. in a catalytic hydrolyzer; and a second stripping step of steam stripping a liquid obtained in the hydrolysis step in a second stripper to separate ammonia and carbon dioxide from this liquid into a gas phase. The residual urea concentration can be reduced to 1 ppm or lower; the residual ammonia concentration can be decreased; LHSV can be increased; and an increase in apparatus size is minimized.

An evaporation system employs a thermocompressor to recover heat associated with a distillate produced by an evaporator and to use the recovered heat to preheat evaporator feedwater. In one example, the thermocompressor produces a thermocompressor discharge that is directed into the deaerator, contacting and preheating the evaporator feedwater passing therethrough. In another example, the thermocompressor discharge is directed through a barometric condenser which contacts evaporator feedwater therein and condenses and in the process preheats the evaporator feedwater.

Systems and methods for crude oil separations including degassing, dewatering, desalting, and stabilization, one method including separating crude oil into a crude oil off-gas and a partially degassed crude oil output; compressing the crude oil off-gas; applying the compressed crude oil off-gas for indirect heating of the partially degassed crude oil output; further heating the partially degassed crude oil output indirectly with compressed low pressure gas; directly mixing with the partially degassed crude oil output a compressed atmospheric pressure gas; separating from the partially degassed crude oil output a low pressure gas for use in the step of further heating; and separating from the partially degassed crude oil output an atmospheric pressure gas for use in the step of directly mixing.

A system and a method for capturing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) used for capturing CO.sub.2 of a CO.sub.2-containing gas are provided. The system for capturing CO.sub.2 includes at least one CO.sub.2 absorption tower, a stripper, a first flash drum, and a compressor. The CO.sub.2 absorption tower has an absorbent. The stripper is connected to a liquid outlet of the CO.sub.2 absorption tower. The first flash drum is connected to a liquid outlet of the stripper. The compressor is connected between a gas outlet of the first flash drum and a gas inlet of the stripper.