Butadiene Extraction via Liquid Ring Compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Butadiene extraction processes face challenges with high operating temperatures and pressures in compressorless designs, leading to lower yields and increased equipment fouling, while conventional designs incur higher capital and operating costs.
Innovation Solution
Operating butadiene extraction processes at intermediate pressures using a liquid ring type compressor, which reduces capital and operating costs while mitigating the risks associated with high temperatures and pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If compressorless design is used, then capital costs are reduced, but operating temperature increases leading to lower yields and higher fouling rates
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid ring compressor is introduced as an intermediary device between the degasser and the system, providing a compromise solution that achieves near-compressorless capital costs while maintaining moderate operating temperatures that preserve yield and reduce fouling
Solution Approach 2:
The operating pressure and temperature parameters are optimized to intermediate values rather than extreme high or low values, achieving a balance between capital cost and productivity by operating at conditions that are neither as expensive as conventional compressorless design nor as costly as full compression design
2Ease of manufacture
If compressorless design is used, then capital costs are reduced, but equipment fouling increases due to higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ring compressor serves as a mediating device that enables operation at moderate temperatures, thereby reducing the harmful fouling effects while maintaining capital cost advantages similar to compressorless design
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of high temperatures into a benefit by using the liquid ring compressor to maintain moderate temperatures, thereby reducing fouling while preserving the capital cost advantages of near-compressorless operation
3Productivity
If conventional design with compressor is used, then operating efficiency is maintained, but capital and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ring compressor is positioned as an intermediary solution between conventional compressors and compressorless design, achieving capital cost reduction while preserving sufficient operating efficiency through moderate compression capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid ring compressor provides a more economical alternative to conventional compressors, achieving similar functional outcomes with lower capital investment and operating costs
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 combines the cost advantages of compressorless designs with the efficiency of conventional designs, improving butadiene yields and reducing fouling risks, resulting in a more economical and effective extraction process.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the overheads from the degasser using a liquid ring type compressor
Implementation Method 2
The separation is carried out by extractive distillation, i.e. a distillation with addition of an extractant which has a higher boiling point than the mixture to be separated and which increases the differences in the relative volatilities of the components to be separated
Implementation Method 3
contacting the hydrocarbon fraction with a solvent in the extractive distillation system to selectively dissolve a portion of the hydrocarbon fraction
Implementation Method 4
feeding the enriched solvent fraction to a rectifier to at least partially degas the enriched solvent
Implementation Method 5
recovering a vapor fraction comprising a first portion of the butanes and the butenes from the extractive distillation system
Data Source
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AI summary
A process for recovering 1,3-butadiene from a C4 fraction, where the butadiene extraction processes may be operated at an intermediate pressure using a liquid ring type compressor. The use of a liquid ring compressor, among other process options presented herein, may advantageously reduce capital and operating costs, similar to the compressorless option, while mitigating the risks associated with the higher operating temperatures and pressures associated with the compressorless option. Thus, the embodiments of the processes disclosed herein encompass the best features of the conventional design (low pressure, with a compressor) with the advantages of the compressorless design (low capital and operating cost), as well as other advantages unique to the systems disclosed herein.