C3/C4 Acetylene Hydrogenation with a Shared Stripper
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional steam cracking process for producing lighter hydrocarbons requires two separate stabilizing/stripper columns to vent off residual unreacted hydrogen, leading to significant capital and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A system is introduced where the depropanizer is located downstream of the debutanizer, eliminating the need for a second stripper column by integrating the C4 and C3 acetylene hydrogenation reactors, and utilizing a single stripper column to vent off residual hydrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate stabilizing/stripper columns are used to vent off residual unreacted hydrogen from C3 and C4 hydrogenation reactor product streams, then the hydrogenation process can meet product specifications, but capital costs and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate stabilizing/stripping operations into a single integrated stripper column. The column is designed with multiple drawoff points that allow simultaneous or sequential removal of residual hydrogen from both C3 hydrogenation reactor product stream and C4 hydrogenation reactor product stream. This merging eliminates the need for two separate columns while maintaining the ability to meet product specifications for both streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The single stripper column is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the stabilizing column for C3 hydrogenation reactor product, the stabilizing column for C4 hydrogenation reactor product, and provides a common venue for venting residual hydrogen from both streams. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of columns required while ensuring product specification compliance.
2Ease of operation
If two separate stabilizing/stripper columns are used for C3 and C4 hydrogenation product streams, then each stream can be independently stabilized, but maintenance costs increase due to more equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stabilization functions for C3 and C4 hydrogenation product streams into a single stripper column. The column incorporates multiple drawoff points and internal configurations that allow independent stabilization of each stream while using shared equipment, thereby reducing maintenance requirements compared to two separate columns.
3Ease of manufacture
If the depropanizer is placed upstream of the debutanizer in a conventional steam cracking process, then the separation sequence follows traditional design, but additional capital investment is required for two stripper columns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by integrating two separate stabilizing/stripping functions into a single column. This reduces the total number of towers from the conventional design (depropanizer, debutanizer, C3 stripper, C4 stripper) to a more compact configuration (depropanizer, debutanizer, single combined stripper), thereby reducing capital investment while maintaining separation efficiency.
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 configuration reduces capital costs by eliminating one tower, while achieving selective hydrogenation of C3 and C4 acetylenes to meet product specifications, resulting in an upgraded hydroprocessed product with controlled hydrogenated C4 acetylenes and 1,3-butadiene content.
Implementation Method 1
selectively hydrogenating C4 acetylenes in the condensed C3-C4 overhead stream in a C4 acetylene hydrogenation reactor
Implementation Method 2
selectively hydrogenating C4 acetyles... over a selective catalyst
Implementation Method 3
a depropanizer, which separates a C3 acetylene-rich hydrocarbon stream from C4 acetylene-rich hydrocarbon stream
Implementation Method 4
a debutanizer in which the C4 acetylene-rich hydrocarbon is separated from the C5-C10 containing pyrolysis gas stream
Implementation Method 5
a stripper column to vent off residual unreacted H2 (hydrogen) from the C4 hydrogenation reactor product stream
Data Source
AI summary
A system for hydrogenation C3 and C4 acetylenes contained within a hydrocarbon stream generated in a stream cracker unit where a debutanizer is placed upstream of a depropanizer for more economical processing of the hydrocarbon stream to produce lighter hydrocarbons, where the system requires only one stripper tower downstream of hydrogenation to remove residual hydrogen.