Compact Hydrocarbon Fractionation Assembly to Reduce Power and Piping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrocarbon fractionation processes are inefficient in terms of power consumption and capital costs, and they require extensive piping with potential leak sources, leading to environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact processing assembly that integrates heat and mass transfer means within a single unit, reducing the need for separate equipment and piping, and utilizing heat and mass transfer mechanisms to enhance separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional separate equipment items are used for hydrocarbon fractionation, then each piece of equipment can be independently maintained and replaced, but the plot space requirements and capital cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate fractionation equipment items (deethanizer, depropanizer, debutanizer columns with their respective condensers, reboilers, and separators) into a single integrated fractionation assembly. This merging eliminates the need for extensive piping and flanged connections between separate units, significantly reducing plot space requirements while maintaining the functional capabilities of each individual separation stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated fractionation assembly performs multiple separation functions simultaneously within a single unit. The assembly can separate ethane, propane, and butanes from natural gas liquids in one continuous process, with each section of the assembly handling a specific separation task while sharing common infrastructure such as the refrigerant circulation system and hydrocarbon liquid collection system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional separate equipment items with extensive piping are used, then equipment can be independently operated, but power consumption increases and environmental emissions increase due to flanged connections
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple separation functions into a single fractionation assembly, the patent eliminates extensive piping and flanged connections that would be required between separate equipment items. This integration reduces the surface area exposed to the environment, minimizing heat loss and reducing the power consumption required to maintain separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of flanged connections (which are leak sources for volatile organic compounds) into a benefit by eliminating them through integration. The welded or sealed connections within the integrated assembly prevent VOC emissions, turning what would have been a harmful feature into a beneficial emission-reduction outcome.
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 significantly reduces power consumption and capital costs while maintaining recovery efficiency, improving stripping efficiency, and minimizing environmental emissions by eliminating flanged connections and volatile organic compound leaks.
Implementation Method 1
The assembly also includes a heat and mass transfer means
Implementation Method 2
The assembly also includes a heat and mass transfer means
Implementation Method 3
a condensing section (111a) above the mass transfer means
Implementation Method 4
a vaporizing section (111d) below the mass transfer means
Data Source
AI summary
A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to fractionate lighter components from mixed hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbon stream is supplied to the processing assembly between an absorbing means and a mass transfer means. A distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of the absorbing means and cooled in a first heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to partially condense it, forming a volatile stream and a condensed stream. The condensed stream is supplied to the absorbing means as its top feed. A distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of the mass transfer means and heated in a second heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to strip out its volatile components, forming a relatively less volatile stream and a vaporized stream. The vaporized stream is supplied to the mass transfer means as its bottom feed.