Combined Solvent Gas Separation With Flash Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating light components like nitrogen and hydrogen from hydrocarbon gas streams are inefficient in terms of process efficiency, cost, and product purity, particularly when dealing with varying feed gas compositions and contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A process that combines an external solvent with an internally generated solvent to enhance absorption selectivity and reduce equipment and energy requirements, utilizing flash regeneration and additional purification steps to achieve higher purity and efficiency in separating multi-component gas streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only internal solvent (heavier components from feed gas) is used for absorption, then equipment complexity is reduced, but absorption selectivity and separation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines internal solvent (heavier components from feed gas) with external solvent (added hydrocarbon components) to create a composite solvent system. This merging allows the process to benefit from both the simplicity of using internal solvent and the enhanced absorption selectivity provided by external solvent, resolving the contradiction between equipment complexity and absorption selectivity
2Manufacturing precision
If external solvent is added to enhance absorption selectivity, then separation efficiency improves, but equipment costs and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the composition and ratio of external solvent added to the system by changing physical-chemical parameters such as solvent type, flow rate, and composition. This allows enhancement of absorption selectivity while controlling equipment costs and energy consumption through parameter optimization rather than simply adding more equipment
3Ease of operation
If conventional absorption systems are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but solvent vaporization losses and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes controlled phase transitions (condensation and vaporization) in the flash separation system to recover solvent from the overhead stream. By condensing solvent vapors and returning them to the absorption system, the process reduces solvent losses while maintaining operational simplicity through the natural phase change mechanism
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 reduces equipment costs, energy usage, and solvent vaporization losses, while improving the purity and value of separated streams by allowing for flexible solvent composition and enhanced contaminant management, accommodating varying feed gas compositions and contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
Absorption using a physical solvent to remove the heavier components and therefore separate them from the light components
Implementation Method 2
The enriched solvent bottoms stream is flashed in at least one reduced pressure stage to release the absorbed component(s) from the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A process for separating the components of a multi-component gas stream is disclosed. The multi-component gas stream is contacted with a solvent in an extractor to produce an overhead stream enriched with unabsorbed component(s) and a rich solvent bottoms stream enriched with absorbed component(s). The rich solvent bottoms stream is then flashed at reduced pressure to regenerate lean solvent and to recover the absorbed component(s) as an overhead stream. The regenerated solvent is recycled to the extractor. A portion of the circulating solvent comprises external solvent added to the system. A second portion of the circulating solvent comprises internal solvent contained in the feed gas.