HRU Regeneration Loop Absorption for Mercaptan and Heavy Hydrocarbon Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrocarbon recovery units (HRUs) face issues with incomplete removal of contaminants like mercaptans and heavy hydrocarbons during the regeneration process, leading to their reintroduction into the feed gas, which increases contaminant concentration in the adsorbent beds.
Innovation Solution
A regeneration loop process that introduces an absorbent, such as C7+ hydrocarbons or polyethylene glycol, into the regeneration gas stream to adsorb and separate C5+ hydrocarbons or organic sulfur species, followed by cooling and three-phase separation to remove these contaminants before reintroducing the gas into the feed stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the regeneration loop uses a heating step followed by cooling step with gas feed stream to regenerate adsorbent beds, then the adsorbent beds are regenerated, but contaminants such as mercaptans and heavy hydrocarbons are not adequately removed and are reintroduced into the feed gas, resulting in higher contaminant concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorbent as an intermediary substance into the regeneration gas stream. This absorbent selectively absorbs contaminants (mercaptans and heavy hydrocarbons) from the regeneration gas, preventing their reintroduction into the feed gas. The absorbent acts as a mediator between the regeneration process and the feed gas, capturing harmful contaminants that the standard cooling condensation step cannot adequately remove.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the regeneration process by introducing an absorbent that alters the absorption characteristics of the regeneration gas stream. By selecting an appropriate absorbent with specific absorption properties for mercaptans and heavy hydrocarbons, the process transforms the regeneration gas composition to eliminate contaminants before recycling, thereby changing the concentration parameters of harmful substances in the closed loop.
2Productivity
If the regeneration process is adjusted for specific adsorbent mass and cycle time, then one or more contaminants is preferentially removed, but certain contaminants like mercaptans are not adequately removed by the separation
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent serves as a specialized intermediary that targets specific contaminants (mercaptans and heavy hydrocarbons) which are not adequately removed by the standard condensation separation process. This intermediary substance provides an additional separation mechanism that works in conjunction with the existing cooling condensation step, enhancing the overall separation completeness without requiring significant changes to the cycle time or adsorbent mass.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If excess contaminants are reintroduced into the feed gas during regeneration, then the regeneration loop maintains continuous operation, but the concentration of contaminants at the feed side of the adsorbent beds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent acts as a protective intermediary in the regeneration gas stream, capturing contaminants before they can be reintroduced into the feed gas and adsorbent beds. This allows the regeneration loop to maintain continuous operation while simultaneously preventing contaminant buildup, as the absorbent continuously removes harmful substances during the regeneration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of continuous regeneration operation (which could reintroduce contaminants) into a benefit by using the regeneration gas stream as a vehicle to deliver the absorbent to the contaminants. The continuous flow that could spread contaminants instead facilitates the continuous removal of contaminants by the absorbent, transforming the harmful continuous operation into a beneficial continuous purification process.
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
Effectively reduces the buildup of heavy hydrocarbons and mercaptans in the adsorbent beds, maintaining lower contaminant concentrations and improving the efficiency of the adsorption process.
Implementation Method 1
introducing an absorbent into the regeneration gas stream to remove a portion of the C5+ hydrocarbons or organic sulfur species
Implementation Method 2
subsequently removing the portion of the C5+ hydrocarbons or organic sulfur species from the regeneration gas stream comprises utilizing three-phase separation to separate the absorbent and liquid water from the regeneration gas stream
Implementation Method 3
Contaminants are subsequently removed as liquids from the regeneration gas during cooling via a condenser
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in certain embodiments are processes for heavy hydrocarbon removal that implement a regeneration loop that introduces an absorbent into a regeneration gas stream, and systems for implementing the same.