Hydrocarbon Fraction Benzene Reduction via Direct Hydrogenation Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing benzene and unsaturated compounds in hydrocarbon fractions are costly and inefficient, particularly in treating various hydrocarbon fractions beyond reformate, leading to significant losses in hydrocarbons and octane number when aiming for low benzene content in gasoline.
Innovation Solution
A process involving distillation, hydrogenation, and optional isomerization, where a feedstock is treated in a distillation zone combined with a hydrogenation reaction zone, with a catalytic bed, and a second feedstock is directly injected into the hydrogenation reaction zone outside the distillation zone, allowing for selective reduction of unsaturated compounds, including benzene, without significant yield loss or octane number reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional extraction or distillation methods are used to reduce benzene content, then benzene content is reduced, but production cost increases and hydrocarbon loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the feedstock by injecting a second feedstock with different composition characteristics into the hydrogenation reaction zone. This allows optimization of the hydrogenation process to selectively reduce benzene while preserving other hydrocarbons, thereby reducing benzene content without significant hydrocarbon loss.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional extraction or distillation methods are used to reduce benzene content, then benzene content is reduced, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrogenation reaction zone with the distillation zone, creating an integrated process where distillation and hydrogenation occur in a combined system. This integration eliminates the need for separate extraction or distillation units, thereby reducing production cost while achieving benzene content reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined distillation-hydrogenation system performs multiple functions simultaneously: separation of hydrocarbon fractions, hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds including benzene, and product recovery. This multi-functionality replaces multiple conventional units, reducing overall production cost.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional methods treat multiple hydrocarbon fractions, then benzene content is reduced across fractions, but octane number decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by injecting a second feedstock specifically into the hydrogenation reaction zone to create localized conditions that favor selective hydrogenation of benzene while preserving the octane-enhancing properties of other hydrocarbon components. This localized modification maintains octane number while reducing benzene content.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional methods treat multiple hydrocarbon fractions, then benzene content is reduced across fractions, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing functions (distillation, hydrogenation, fraction separation) into a single integrated system where a second feedstock is injected into the hydrogenation reaction zone. This merging reduces the number of separate processing units and simplifies the overall process while achieving benzene content reduction across multiple hydrocarbon fractions.
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 process effectively reduces benzene and unsaturated compounds in multiple hydrocarbon fractions at low cost, maintaining a high octane number and minimizing hydrocarbon loss, thus complying with stringent benzene content standards.
Implementation Method 1
a feedstock is treated in a distillation zone, combined with a hydrogenation reaction zone
Implementation Method 2
with a catalytic bed, and a second feedstock is directly injected into the hydrogenation reaction zone outside the distillation zone, allowing for selective reduction of unsaturated compounds
Implementation Method 3
hydrogenation reaction zone, with a catalytic bed
Implementation Method 4
A process involving distillation, hydrogenation, and optional isomerization
Data Source
AI summary
Process for treatment of a feedstock, such as hydrocarbons that comprise at least 4 carbon atoms per molecule and that comprise at least one unsaturated compound including benzene, such that said feedstock is treated in a distillation zone, associated with a hydrogenation reaction zone, at least in part outside of the distillation zone, and an isomerization zone, so as to discharge—at the top of the distillation zone and at the bottom of the distillation zone—an effluent that is low in unsaturated compounds, whereby said process comprises the treatment of at least a second feedstock, comprising at least one unsaturated compound including benzene, at least partially directly injected into the hydrogenation zone that is outside of the distillation zone.