Halide-Free Hydrocarbon Production Through Pressure Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refinery processes face challenges in removing ammonium halides, which can precipitate and cause corrosion, especially when treating hydrocarbonaceous feeds with high halide content, such as thermal decomposition products of plastic waste or biomass, leading to process line blockages and equipment corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A process involving high-pressure gas/liquid separation followed by low-pressure purification, using steam as a stripping medium to maintain temperatures above the ammonium halide precipitation point, minimizing water usage, and employing a system with stacked strippers to efficiently separate and remove halides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water washing is used to remove inorganic halides from the hydrocarbon stream, then halide removal efficiency is improved, but water consumption increases and equipment corrosion risk worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of washing liquid from conventional water to an alkaline solution (pH 8-14), which enhances halide removal efficiency while reducing water consumption and preventing equipment corrosion through the alkaline environment that neutralizes acidic HCl
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a disposable alkaline washing solution that can be regenerated or replaced, avoiding the need for complex water treatment and recycling systems, thus reducing overall water consumption and equipment investment
2Reliability
If process temperature is maintained above ammonium halide precipitation temperature, then salt precipitation is avoided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an alkaline washing solution as an intermediary that chemically neutralizes HCl to form soluble salts, allowing the process to operate at lower temperatures without ammonium halide precipitation, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful HCl byproduct into beneficial soluble salts through alkaline neutralization, eliminating the need to maintain high temperatures to prevent salt precipitation and thereby reducing energy consumption
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional water washing is used to remove halides, then halide removal is achieved, but equipment corrosion worsens due to HCl acidity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pH parameter of the washing liquid from neutral (water) to alkaline (pH 8-14), which not only improves halide removal efficiency but also prevents equipment corrosion by neutralizing the acidic HCl environment
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 and operational expenses by minimizing water consumption, avoiding salt precipitation, and achieving high-purity hydrocarbon products while maintaining efficient separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
separating the mixed product stream to an overhead stream and a liquid stream
Implementation Method 2
using steam as a stripping medium to maintain temperatures above the ammonium halide precipitation point
Implementation Method 3
separating the combined streams to a purified hydrocarbon stream
Implementation Method 4
washing the overhead stream with water to dissolve inorganic halides and ammonia
Data Source
AI summary
A process and a process plant for efficient separation of ammonium halides from hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process involves high pressure gas/liquid separation and separate low pressure purification of the two streams, optionally in strippers.