Ionic Liquid Alkylation Centrifugal Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an improved ionic liquid alkylation process that effectively separates the reactor effluent into an acidic ionic liquid phase and a hydrocarbon phase, as existing methods require additional steps and catalyst deactivation, leading to increased catalyst consumption and process complexity.
Innovation Solution
The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon mixture of isoparaffin and olefin with an acidic ionic liquid catalyst under alkylation conditions, followed by centrifugal separation of the reactor effluent to efficiently separate the hydrocarbon phase and ionic liquid phase, eliminating the need for additional compounds or catalyst deactivation, and allowing for the recycling of unreacted isoparaffin and olefin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional separation methods (settler unit) are used to separate reactor effluent into ionic liquid phase and hydrocarbon phase, then separation can be achieved, but additional steps and catalyst deactivation are required, leading to increased process complexity and catalyst consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful separation steps (water addition, catalyst deactivation) from the process by directly separating the reactor effluent into ionic liquid phase and hydrocarbon phase using a settler unit, eliminating the need for additional compounds and catalyst destruction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the ionic liquid catalyst from the separated ionic liquid phase and returns it to the reactor, preventing catalyst loss and avoiding the need for continuous catalyst replenishment that would result from deactivation
2Ease of operation
If water is added to deactivate the catalyst for separation, then catalyst deactivation is achieved, but catalyst consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water addition step entirely by achieving separation through the inherent immiscibility of the ionic liquid and hydrocarbon phases, extracting the harmful deactivation operation from the process
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst is recovered from the separated ionic liquid phase and reused in the reactor, transforming a disposable deactivation approach into a sustainable recovery and reuse cycle that minimizes catalyst consumption
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 enables efficient separation of the reactor effluent without adding water or deactivating the catalyst, reducing catalyst consumption and simplifying the process, while maintaining high alkylate quality suitable for gasoline blending.
Implementation Method 1
separating at least part the reactor effluent into a hydrocarbon phase effluent and a multiple-phase effluent in a centrifugal separation unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides process for preparing an alkylate comprising contacting in a reactor a hydrocarbon mixture comprising at least an isoparaffin and an olefin with an acidic ionic liquid catalyst under alkylation conditions to obtain an alkylate, which process further comprises: —withdrawing an alkylate-comprising reactor effluent from the reactor, wherein the reactor effluent comprises an ionic liquid phase and a hydrocarbon phase; —separating at least part the reactor effluent into a hydrocarbon phase effluent and a multiple-phase effluent in a centrifugal separation unit; —fractionating at least part of said hydrocarbon phase effluent into at least a stream comprising alkylate and a stream comprising isoparaffin.