Hydropyrolysis Hydrogen Donor Feed for Olefin Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing fuels and chemicals from biomass are inefficient due to reliance on expensive molecular hydrogen and the production of unwanted by-products and coke, which complicates the conversion process and reduces the economic viability of the products.

Innovation Solution

Hydropyrolysis of hydrogen lean carbon containing feeds in the presence of a hydrogen donor feed, which provides atomic hydrogen, reducing the need for external hydrogen and minimizing coking, while using sand with traditional catalysts to enhance the production of olefins and aromatic compounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If molecular hydrogen is used as hydrogen source, then hydrogenation reaction can proceed, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrogenation efficiencyVSAvoidcost of hydrogen source
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hydrogen donor compound that is already present in the reaction system, allowing the system to provide its own hydrogen source without external molecular hydrogen input. The hydrogen donor compound transfers hydrogen atoms directly to the substrate during the reaction, making the process self-sufficient and eliminating the need for expensive external hydrogen supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrogen donor compound acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates hydrogen transfer from the reaction medium to the substrate. Instead of using molecular hydrogen directly, the donor compound mediates the hydrogenation process by providing hydrogen atoms through its chemical structure, thereby reducing the need for expensive molecular hydrogen while maintaining reaction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If harsh reaction conditions are applied to convert biomass, then conversion efficiency improves, but unwanted by-products and coke are produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomass conversion efficiencyVSAvoidby-products and coke formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the reaction parameters by introducing a hydrogen donor compound and catalyst system that enables effective biomass conversion at milder conditions. This changes the chemical environment to favor desired reaction pathways while suppressing side reactions that lead to coke and unwanted by-products, thereby maintaining high conversion efficiency without the harmful effects of harsh conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrogen donor compound serves as a sacrificial reagent that is consumed during the reaction to prevent coke formation. By using this disposable hydrogen source, the system can operate under conditions that maximize conversion efficiency while the donor compound continuously replenishes hydrogen to prevent the formation of unwanted by-products and coke.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If multiple catalysts are used to produce acceptable fuel products, then product quality improves, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct qualityVSAvoidnumber of catalysts and processing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a catalyst system that performs multiple functions simultaneously - facilitating hydrogen transfer, promoting biomass conversion, and preventing coke formation. This multi-functional catalyst approach eliminates the need for multiple separate catalysts and processing steps, reducing process complexity while maintaining high product quality through integrated catalytic activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 decreases the demand for costly molecular hydrogen, increases the yield of economically valuable olefins and aromatic compounds, and achieves a more energy-efficient process by utilizing hydrogen donor feeds and sand-catalyst combinations to stabilize the reaction conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a first carbon containing feed having a first ratio of atomic hydrogen to carbon atoms... is contacted with a second carbon containing feed having a second ratio of atomic hydrogen to carbon atoms... to produce a product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen transfer reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The mixture can be contacted with a catalyst or mixture of catalysts to produce olefins and aromatic compounds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

The mixture can be heated to a temperature sufficient to produce the product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy input: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3169753B1Upgrading hydrogen deficient streams using hydrogen donor streams in a hydropyrolysis process
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES BV
  • EP3169753B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3169753B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3169753B1 patent drawingFigure 3C~3E

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for producing olefins and aromatic compounds from a hydrogen lean carbon containing feed, the method comprising hydropyrolyzing the hydrogen lean carbon containing feed in the presence of a hydrogen donor feed under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product comprising olefins and aromatic compounds or a hydrocarbonaceous stream, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous stream is further processed into olefins and aromatic compounds, wherein the olefins and aromatic compounds from (i) or the hydrocarbonaceous stream from (ii) are each obtained by hydrogenation of the hydrogen lean carbon containing feed with the hydrogen donor feed and cracking of carbonaceous compounds comprised in the hydrogenated feed, and wherein the hydrogen donor feed comprises a compound that donates hydrogen to carbonaceous compounds in the hydrogen lean feed.