Amine Mixture Aromatic Extraction for Acid Gas Upgrading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional acid gas scrubbing processes using amines in hydrocarbon processes lead to foulant precursor formation, causing fouling and operational difficulties, with the disposal of rich aromatic streams resulting in loss of valuable products and increased disposal challenges.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the combination of an amine mixture with an aromatic hydrocarbon stream to separate and extract amine and aromatic components, reducing foulant precursors and minimizing the loss of aromatic hydrocarbons, while upgrading the hydrocarbon-containing process stream by contacting it with a lean aqueous amine mixture to transfer H2S and produce an upgraded stream with reduced H2S and mercaptans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amine is used to remove acid gases from process stream, then acid gas removal efficiency is improved, but foulant precursor formation increases causing fouling and operational difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts foulant precursors from the amine solution by contacting it with an aromatic hydrocarbon stream. The foulant precursors transfer to the aromatic stream, which is then separated and disposed of, while the regenerated amine solution is returned to the acid gas removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The aromatic hydrocarbon stream serves as an intermediary medium that selectively absorbs foulant precursors from the amine solution without interfering with the acid gas removal function of the amine.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If aromatic stream is used to remove foulant precursors from amine, then fouling is reduced, but valuable aromatic hydrocarbons are lost requiring disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a dedicated fouling removal zone using the aromatic stream, which becomes contaminated specifically with foulant precursors while the main amine solution remains clean for continued acid gas removal service.
3Reliability
If rich aromatic stream is conducted to waste, then foulant precursors are removed from amine, but operational difficulties and product loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent discards the foulant-laden aromatic stream while recovering and regenerating the amine solution. The amine is stripped of foulant precursors and returned to service, creating a sustainable operational cycle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces fouling, minimizes the loss of aromatic hydrocarbons, and enhances the efficiency of acid gas removal, allowing for the reuse of the amine mixture and the recovery of valuable aromatic components.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the process stream with the lean aqueous amine mixture and transferring to the lean aqueous amine mixture ≧60.0 wt. % of the process stream's H2S
Implementation Method 2
combining the first and second mixtures; separating third and fourth mixtures from the combined first and second mixtures
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to processes for upgrading a process stream, such as those containing C2+ olefin and one or more acidic gases, to equipment useful in such processes, and to upgraded process streams.