Integrated propane dehydrogenation process

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to the production of polypropylene. A hydrocarbon feedstock, containing propane, is fed to a propane dehydrogenation reaction zone to convert a portion of the propane to propylene. The propane and propylene are separated, and at least a portion of the propylene stream is fed to a polymerization zone. In the polymerization zone, propylene is reacted to produce apolypropylene. Additionally, a purge gas and a carrier gas are recovered. The purge and carrier gases are fed to the separation system and cooled against a second portion of the propylene stream.

Description

Background technique [0001] The production of propylene via propane dehydrogenation typically involves a dehydrogenation reactor and separation system to recover a propylene product stream, such as a polymer grade propylene (98 wt%+) stream. The propylene produced can then be used in any number of downstream processes, one of which involves converting the propylene to polymers. [0002] For example, polypropylene can be produced by a number of different methods, including gas phase polymerization methods and bulk fluid polymerization methods. These methods typically employ a gas such as nitrogen, for example, as a fluidizing or purge gas during the polymerization process, or to remove light hydrocarbons from the polymerization product, where nitrogen and other entrained gases can be collected as purge gas . In some polypropylene processes, a gas membrane separation unit may be employed to separate the purge gas (nitrogen) from the light hydrocarbons. Typically the light hyd...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Gas-phase polymerization methods also require a carrier, for which a separate and expensive recycling method is required

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