Process for removing inert gases from ammonia synthesis gas

Claim 1

IN A SYSTEM FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF AMMONIA WHEREIN NITROGEN AND HYDROGEN, CONTAINED IN A FIRST MIXTURE OF GASES COMPRISED OF NITROGEN, HYDROGEN, METHANE, HELIUM AND ARGON, ARE REACTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST IN A REACTION ZONE UNDER AMMONIA PRODUCING CONDITIONS TO FORM AN AMMONIA PRODUCT WHICH IS SUBSEQUENTLY LIQUEFIED AND WHEREIN UNREACTED CYCLE GASES CONTAINING NITROACTION COMPRISING METHANE, HELIUM, AND ARGON ARE RECYCLED TO SAID REACTION ZONE, THE STEPS OF: CONTACTING SAID CYCLE GASES WITH A PORTION OF SAID LIQUID AMMONIA PRODUCT IN AN ABSORPTION ZONE; PREFERENTIALLY ABSORBING METHANE FROM SAID MIXTURE OF GASES INERT TO SAID REACTION; AND INCREASING THE PARTIAL PRESSURES OF REMAINING SAID GASES INERT TO SAID REACTION TO THE EXTENT THAT ADDITIONAL GASES INERT TO SAID REACTION ARE ABSORBED IN SAID ABSORBENT.