NORM Reduction in Oxidative Dehydrogenation Recycle Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) such as radon and its decay products accumulate in oxidative dehydrogenation processes, posing inhalation hazards and contaminating equipment, which can lead to costly decontamination or disposal as radioactive waste.
Innovation Solution
A system is implemented that includes a feed stream with oxygen, a hydrocarbon, and NORM, an oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactor, a processing unit, and a NORM reduction unit. The system processes the effluent stream to separate the dehydrogenated hydrocarbon from the unreacted hydrocarbon and NORM, and the NORM reduction unit reduces the NORM content in the recycle stream, which is then recycled back to the ODH reactor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If oxidative dehydrogenation process is operated continuously with hydrocarbon recycle, then productivity is improved, but NORM accumulates in the system causing radiation hazards and equipment contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts NORM from the recycle stream using an adsorption bed containing radioactive material adsorbent. The adsorption bed selectively removes NORM components (radon, radium, lead) from the hydrocarbon recycle stream, allowing continuous operation while preventing NORM accumulation in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The adsorption bed acts as an intermediary component between the ODH reactor and the recycle stream. It mediates the removal of NORM contaminants while allowing the hydrocarbon recycle stream to continue flowing, thus enabling continuous operation without direct exposure to radiation hazards.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If NORM is removed from the system, then radiation safety is improved, but process complexity increases due to additional treatment units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses porous adsorption material in the adsorption bed to remove NORM from the recycle stream. The porous structure provides large surface area for adsorption while maintaining relatively simple equipment design, thus reducing radiation hazard without significantly increasing system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If adsorption bed is used to remove NORM, then NORM reduction effectiveness is improved, but pressure drop and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorption bed is designed to remove NORM to a sufficient level for safety purposes, rather than attempting complete removal. This partial action approach achieves the necessary NORM reduction effectiveness while minimizing pressure drop and energy consumption associated with forcing gas through the adsorption medium.
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 system effectively mitigates NORM contamination in oxidative dehydrogenation processes, protecting equipment from radioactive fouling and reducing the need for costly radiation monitoring and waste disposal.
Implementation Method 1
The ODH reactor is configured to receive the feed stream and react at least a portion of the hydrocarbon with the oxygen to form a dehydrogenated hydrocarbon and water
Implementation Method 2
The NORM reduction unit includes an adsorption bed. The adsorption bed is configured to remove the NORM from the recycle stream
Implementation Method 3
The filter is configured to capture and prevent solid material from entering the ODH reactor
Implementation Method 4
The absorber is configured to remove the NORM from the feed stream before the feed stream enters the ODH reactor
Implementation Method 5
The solid material receptacle is configured to accumulate solid material entrained in any fluid entering the ODH reactor
Implementation Method 6
The inlet pipe includes a baffle configured to direct the solid material to the solid material receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A system for mitigating naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in an oxidative dehydrogenation process includes a feed stream, an oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactor, an effluent stream, a processing unit, and a NORM reduction unit. The feed stream includes oxygen, a hydrocarbon, and NORM. The ODH reactor is configured to receive the feed stream and react the hydrocarbon with the oxygen to form a dehydrogenated hydrocarbon and water. The effluent stream includes the dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, water, unreacted hydrocarbon, and NORM. The processing unit is configured to process the effluent stream to form a product stream and a recycle stream. The product stream includes the dehydrogenated hydrocarbon. The recycle stream includes unreacted hydrocarbon and NORM. The NORM reduction unit is configured to reduce an amount of the NORM in the recycle stream to produce a NORM-reduced recycle stream. The ODH reactor is configured to receive the NORM-reduced recycle stream.