Biodiesel Isomerization Recycling for Cold Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing paraffin-based biodiesel from triglycerides face challenges such as side reactions, equipment corrosion, and poor cold flow properties due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and oxygen, leading to increased capital and operation costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-step hydrodeoxygenation process involving the separation of products into gas and liquid phases, isomerization of part of the liquid phase, and recycling the isomerized product to dilute the fresh feed, along with hydrofinishing to saturate double bonds, without additional pressure-increasing equipment or gas-liquid separators, to enhance cold flow properties and reduce reaction heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-step hydrodeoxygenation is performed with product recycling, then cold flow properties are improved and side reactions are suppressed, but device complexity increases due to additional isomerization and recycling units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization processes into an integrated multi-step system where the isomerization unit processes part of the hydrodeoxygenation product and returns it to the feed stream. This merging of functions allows the system to improve cold flow properties through isomerization while maintaining the benefits of hydrodeoxygenation, resolving the contradiction between product quality and process complexity by creating a synergistic integrated process.
Solution Approach 2:
The recycling mechanism ensures continuous circulation of isomerized product back to the feed stream, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the system. This continuous recycling allows the process to consistently produce high-quality biodiesel with improved cold flow properties while distributing the processing load across multiple circulation cycles, thereby managing system complexity through sustained operational continuity.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If isomerized product is recycled to dilute fresh feed, then reaction heat is scattered and equipment life is extended, but hydrogen consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the recycling ratio of isomerized product to optimize the balance between equipment protection and hydrogen consumption. By controlling the extent of dilution and the circulation rate, the system can scatter reaction heat effectively to extend equipment life while managing hydrogen consumption through optimized process parameters rather than unlimited recycling.
3Reliability
If part of the product is isomerized and recycled, then cold flow properties improve, but production efficiency decreases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by isomerizing only a portion of the hydrodeoxygenation product rather than the entire stream. This selective partial isomerization allows the system to achieve sufficient improvement in cold flow properties while minimizing the impact on production efficiency. By processing only the necessary fraction of the product and recycling it to the feed stream, the system balances quality enhancement with maintaining high overall productivity.
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 suppresses side reactions, extends equipment and catalyst life, improves cold flow properties, and reduces capital and operation costs by scattering reaction heat and maintaining efficient hydrogen use, resulting in a paraffin-based hydrocarbon with superior cold flow characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an isomerization unit (b) that isomerizes part of the product from the hydrodeoxygenation unit
Implementation Method 2
scattering reaction heat and maintaining efficient hydrogen use, resulting in a paraffin-based hydrocarbon with superior cold flow characteristics
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing biodiesel by isomerizing a part of the resultant of hydrodeoxygenation and recycling the isomerized product, and then hydrodeoxygenating a fresh feed in a diluted state again when oxygen is removed in the form of water, CO, and CO2 by adding hydrogen to a feed including triglyceride (TG).