Guard Bed Temperature Profile for Submicron Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fischer-Tropsch catalyst contaminants, particularly submicron particulates, are not effectively removed by traditional guard beds, leading to plugging of hydroprocessing reactor beds, reduced run lengths, increased turnaround frequencies, and undesirable methane production, due to their agglomeration tendencies and ability to pass through conventional filters.
Innovation Solution
A guard bed with a controlled temperature profile is employed to manage the distribution of contaminants, using high void volume inert materials and adjusting the temperature to optimize solids loading and extend the service life of the guard bed by ensuring even deposition of contaminants, thereby preventing plugging and improving plant efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional guard beds are used to remove solids, then larger particles are captured, but submicron catalyst contaminants pass through and cause plugging downstream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies temperature as a controlling parameter to modify the physical state and behavior of submicron contaminants. By heating the feedstock before it enters the guard bed, the contaminants undergo changes in volatility and aggregation behavior, causing them to deposit on the guard bed media rather than pass through. This parameter change (temperature) transforms the guard bed's ability to capture submicron particles that would otherwise escape traditional filtration.
2Quantity of substance
If guard bed depth and volume are increased to capture more contaminants, then solids loading capacity increases, but pressure drop and run length issues persist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to alter contaminant deposition characteristics. By controlling temperature, the contaminants are converted to a state where they deposit more uniformly and with less resistance buildup. This allows the guard bed to maintain higher loading capacity without experiencing the rapid pressure drop increases that would normally occur with increased bed depth or volume.
3Measurement precision
If conventional filters are used to remove submicron particles, then filtration efficiency should improve, but FT catalyst contaminants agglomerate and pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating action before the feedstock reaches the guard bed. This pre-treatment step modifies the contaminants' physical properties, preventing them from agglomerating in a way that would allow passage. The preliminary thermal action prepares the contaminants for effective capture by the guard bed media, ensuring they deposit rather than pass through the filtration system.
4Reliability
If guard bed is designed for high void volume to capture solids, then solids trapping improves, but submicron contaminants are not retained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temperature as a critical parameter that changes the behavior of submicron contaminants. By controlling the temperature parameter, the contaminants are transformed into a state where they can be captured by the high void volume media. The thermal parameter change enables the guard bed structure to effectively retain particles that would otherwise pass through due to the bed's high void volume design.
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
The controlled temperature profile effectively traps submicron contaminants, reducing pressure drops, extending run lengths, and minimizing methane production, thereby enhancing plant efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a guard bed that employs a temperature profile to control the distribution of the contaminants within the guard bed
Implementation Method 2
adjusting the temperature to optimize solids loading and extend the service life of the guard bed by ensuring even deposition of contaminants
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a guard bed at the reactor inlet that has layers of progressively smaller sized inert material with high void volumes to capture the different sizes of solids
Implementation Method 4
The controlled temperature profile effectively traps submicron contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a hydroprocessing feed stream. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a hydroprocessing feed stream which originates in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor using a guard bed that employs a temperature profile.