Hydrogen Sulfide Removal Using Light-Generated Reactive Sulfur Species
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for hydrogen sulfide removal in hydrocarbon production systems are inefficient, costly, and require frequent interventions due to catalyst degradation, posing safety hazards and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
Irradiating hydrogen sulfide with high-energy light to form sulfur-containing reactive species that act as autocatalysts, reacting with remaining hydrogen sulfide to generate hydrogen gas and sulfur-containing products, eliminating the need for external catalysts and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional catalysts are used to remove hydrogen sulfide, then hydrogen sulfide removal is achieved, but the catalyst degrades over time requiring frequent interventions and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs autocatalysis where sulfur-containing reactive species generated during the reaction process serve as catalysts themselves. The reaction system becomes self-sustaining without requiring external catalysts, eliminating catalyst degradation issues and intervention needs. The hydrogen sulfide reaction products automatically catalyze further hydrogen sulfide removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the need for external catalysts entirely by extracting the catalytic function from separate materials and embedding it within the reaction products themselves. The sulfur-containing species generated during hydrogen sulfide dissociation inherently possess catalytic properties that sustain the reaction without external intervention.
2Productivity
If external catalysts are added to remove hydrogen sulfide, then hydrogen sulfide removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction system generates its own catalysts through the dissociation of hydrogen sulfide into sulfur-containing reactive species. These species automatically catalyze further hydrogen sulfide removal without requiring external catalyst addition, management systems, or intervention protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The sulfur-containing reactive species serve multiple functions simultaneously: they are reaction products, catalysts, and reaction intermediates. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate catalyst materials and simplifies the overall system design.
3Productivity
If high energy light is used to photolytically cleave hydrogen sulfide, then hydrogen sulfide dissociation is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the energy input from light into chemical energy stored in sulfur-containing reactive species, which then drive the exothermic autocatalytic reaction. The initial energy input is amplified through the self-sustaining reaction cycle, reducing overall energy requirements compared to direct photolysis alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reaction mechanism from direct photolysis to an autocatalytic chemical reaction pathway. This parameter change in reaction mechanism allows the system to proceed with lower energy input by utilizing the chemical energy released during hydrogen sulfide dissociation to drive further reactions.
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 method effectively removes hydrogen sulfide with minimal energy input, reduces maintenance needs, and minimizes corrosion-related costs and safety risks, while producing hydrogen gas as a byproduct.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating a gas containing hydrogen sulfide with high energy light to photolytically cleave some of the hydrogen sulfide in the gas to form sulfur-containing reactive species
Implementation Method 2
The sulfur-containing reactive species act as autocatalysts that react with some of the remaining hydrogen sulfide in the gas to generate hydrogen gas (H2) and one or more sulfur-containing products
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to methods of irradiating a gas containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) with high energy light to photolytically cleave some of the hydrogen sulfide in the gas to form sulfur-containing reactive species. The sulfur-containing reactive species act as autocatalysts that react with some of the remaining hydrogen sulfide in the gas to generate hydrogen gas and one or more sulfur-containing products. The methods remove hydrogen sulfide from the gas and produce hydrogen gas. The methods can be implemented in a component of a hydrocarbon producing well (e.g., a wellhead, a flow line, a production casing, a production tubing), a component used to transport the gas mixture produced by the well (e.g., a transportation pipeline), a gas treatment system (e.g., a tail gas treatment system), a borehole and/or an underground formation.