Mercury Removal via Sulfur-Loaded Amine Phase Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing mercury from hydrocarbon streams face issues such as sorbent fouling and clogging in fixed bed applications, and require complex filtration in fluidized bed systems, which are inefficient and prone to clogging.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sulfur-lean amine that absorbs sulfur, which is then used to contact and transfer mercury from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon liquid, separating the mercury into a sulfur-rich amine, thereby reducing mercury concentration in the hydrocarbon stream, and a system incorporating a gas stripper and mercury removal unit for effective phase separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed bed solid sorbent applications are used for crude oil and heavy hydrocarbons, then mercury removal is achieved, but the sorbent fouls and becomes plugged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a sulfur-containing amine solution as an intermediary carrier to transfer mercury from the hydrocarbon phase to the aqueous phase. Instead of direct contact between hydrocarbons and solid sorbents (which causes fouling), the amine solution mediates the mercury removal process by absorbing mercury in the aqueous phase, thereby preventing sorbent clogging while maintaining removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs liquid-liquid extraction using an aqueous amine solution to replace solid sorbent applications. The hydraulic approach allows the mercury-containing hydrocarbon to contact the amine solution, where mercury transfers to the aqueous phase, avoiding the mechanical clogging issues inherent in fixed bed solid sorbent systems
2Reliability
If fluidized bed applications are used with sorbent particles, then mercury removal is achieved, but complex filtration is required for particle separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces solid particle-based fluidized bed systems with a liquid-liquid extraction system using aqueous amine solution. This hydraulic approach eliminates the need for complex filtration equipment required to separate solid particles from treated hydrocarbons, as the mercury transfers to the aqueous phase which can be easily separated through decantation or phase separation
3Reliability
If filtration procedures are used to separate particles from treated fluids, then particle removal is achieved, but clogging issues occur similar to fixed bed applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquid-liquid phase separation instead of filtration to separate mercury-containing amine solution from treated hydrocarbons. The aqueous amine phase and hydrocarbon phase naturally separate due to density differences, eliminating the need for filtration equipment that is prone to clogging in fixed bed applications
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 reduces mercury concentration in hydrocarbon streams by up to 70% through phase separation, with increased sulfur content and temperature enhancing mercury removal efficiency, avoiding clogging issues and improving processing unit performance.
Implementation Method 1
stripping a sour gas with a sulfur-lean amine. Hydrogen sulfide transfers from the sour gas to the sulfur-lean amine
Implementation Method 2
contacting the sulfur-rich amine with the mercury-containing hydrocarbon liquid to transfer mercury from the mercury-containing hydrocarbon liquid to the sulfur-rich amine
Implementation Method 3
Separation then divides the mixture into a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with an amine that has absorbed a sulfur compound causes the mercury contaminants to be absorbed by the amine. Phase separation then removes from the fluid the amine loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains.