Hydrotreated Feed Fractionation for Olefins and Aromatics Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing light olefins and aromatics are inefficient and costly, particularly when using conventional feedstocks, and there is a need for improved methods to upgrade low-value hydrocarbons like tight oil and mixed waste plastic oil into high-value chemical products.
Innovation Solution
A process involving hydrotreating, catalytic reforming, and catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feeds, including tight oil and mixed waste plastic oil, to produce light olefins and aromatics, utilizing hydrotreating catalysts and separation units to minimize equipment and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional feedstocks are used in existing refinery processes, then production of light olefins and aromatics can be maintained, but the process is inefficient and costly with high capital expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the feedstock parameter from conventional high-value hydrocarbons to low-value tight oil and mixed waste plastic oil, fundamentally altering the input material properties to enable cost-effective production while maintaining output quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes inexpensive, readily available low-value feedstocks (tight oil, waste plastic oil) as disposable input materials that can be economically converted to high-value products, replacing the need for expensive conventional feedstocks
2Device complexity
If low-value feedstock such as tight oil and mixed waste plastic oil is used, then capital expenditure is reduced, but the feedstock requires upgrading to high-value streams with minimum additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrotreating unit performs multiple functions simultaneously: it upgrades the low-value feedstock, removes contaminants, and prepares the hydrocarbon stream for subsequent processing, eliminating the need for separate preparation units and reducing overall equipment requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed acts as an intermediary product that bridges the low-value feedstock and the final high-value products, enabling the conversion process to proceed efficiently through controlled chemical transformation
3Quantity of substance
If low-value feedstock is upgraded to high-value streams, then high amount of chemicals are produced, but the process requires specific reaction conditions including temperature and pressure control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes reaction parameters (temperature of 300-600°C, pressure of 2-15 MPa) to maximize chemical yield from the low-value feedstock, establishing specific operational windows that enable efficient conversion while managing thermal and pressure constraints
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 process effectively upgrades low-value hydrocarbons into high-value chemical products with increased yields of light olefins and aromatics, reducing capital expenditure and operational costs compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed comprising tight oil, mixed waste plastic oil, or a blend thereof, to produce a hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed
Implementation Method 2
hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed comprising tight oil, mixed waste plastic oil, or a blend thereof, to produce a hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed
Implementation Method 3
separating the hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed of step (a) into a first fraction having a boiling temperature of less than 300° C. and a second fraction having a boiling temperature of 300° C. or more
Implementation Method 4
converting the second fraction into aromatics can include catalytically reforming the second fraction under conditions sufficient to produce aromatics
Implementation Method 5
converting the first fraction into light olefins and aromatics by catalytically cracking the first fraction under conditions sufficient to produce a products stream that can include aromatics and a gaseous C5− hydrocarbon stream
Implementation Method 6
steam cracking the gaseous C5− hydrocarbon stream under conditions sufficient to produce light olefins
Data Source
AI summary
Processes and systems to produce light olefins and aromatics are described. A process can include hydrotreating a hydrocarbon that includes tight oil, mixed waste plastic oil, or a blend thereof to produce a hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed. The hydrotreated hydrocarbon feed can be separated into at least two fractions having boiling temperatures above 300° C. and less than 300° C. Both fractions can be further processed to produce light olefins and aromatics.