Oil Scrub Column Angular Runoff Trays Fouling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oil scrub columns face fouling issues due to polymer formation, particularly in the petroleum spirit section, which leads to increased construction height and inefficiencies, as existing solutions like side-to-side baffles and additional mass transfer trays do not effectively prevent polymerization.
Innovation Solution
The use of second mass transfer trays with angular profiles and runoff elements in the oil section, which keep polymerizable unsaturated hydrocarbons away from the petroleum spirit trays, along with a design that includes more transfer-effective trays and a circulation of liquid to reduce residence time, effectively preventing fouling and maintaining a compact column structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional mass transfer trays and side-to-side baffles are used to prevent polymer formation, then fouling is reduced, but column height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the polymerization-prone unsaturated hydrocarbons from the petroleum spirit section by using selectively permeable membranes in the oil section. These membranes allow saturated hydrocarbons to pass through while blocking unsaturated hydrocarbons, effectively removing the polymerizable components from the section where polymerization would cause fouling.
Solution Approach 2:
The selectively permeable membranes act as an intermediary barrier between the oil section and petroleum spirit section. These membranes selectively separate hydrocarbon types based on their chemical properties, preventing unsaturated hydrocarbons from reaching the petroleum spirit section without requiring additional physical barriers or increased column height.
2Productivity
If residence time on mass transfer trays is increased to improve mass transfer, then separation efficiency increases, but polymer formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unsaturated hydrocarbons (the polymerizable components) from the petroleum spirit section through selective permeation membranes in the oil section. This extraction prevents polymer formation while maintaining adequate residence time for mass transfer of the saturated hydrocarbon components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the liquid phase by selectively removing unsaturated hydrocarbons through permeation membranes. This parameter change (removal of polymerizable components) allows the system to maintain longer residence times without suffering from increased polymer formation.
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 design suppresses polymer formation in the petroleum spirit section, enhances mass transfer efficiency, and increases the structural strength and capacity of the oil scrub column, achieving twice the efficiency of single-flow side-to-side baffles while preventing fouling and maintaining a smaller column construction.
Implementation Method 1
the oil scrub column subjects the second transfer trays to a liquid, hydrocarbon-containing second scrubbing medium (more particularly to an oil fraction), in order to produce a mass transfer between said cracking gas stream and this second scrubbing medium, so that in the oil section an oil fraction is separated out from the cracking gas stream
Implementation Method 2
the oil scrub column subjects the first mass transfer trays to a liquid, hydrocarbon-containing first scrubbing medium (more particularly to a petroleum spirit fraction), in order to produce a mass transfer between the cracking gas stream and this first scrubbing medium, so that in the petroleum spirit section a petroleum spirit fraction is separated out from the cracking gas
Implementation Method 3
the runoff elements each have first and second runoff surfaces, where the two runoff surfaces converge along the longitudinal axis towards the petroleum spirit section and meet, and in so doing form an edge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis or along the column cross section, so that the second scrubbing medium introduced onto the edges of the runoff elements flows off from the respective runoff element via the runoff surfaces at both sides of the respective edge
Data Source
AI summary
An oil scrub column having a petroleum spirit section and an oil section where each section has mass transfer trays having a plurality of runoff elements that extend parallel to and at a distance from one another, to form angular profiles. The runoff elements have first and second runoff surfaces that converge to form an edge. Scrubbing media introduced onto the edges of the runoff elements flows off via the runoff surfaces at both sides of the edge. The oil section has a greater number of mass transfer trays than the petroleum spirit section. The petroleum spirit section is shorter than the oil section. The mass transfer trays of the petroleum spirit section may be sieve trays, bubble trays or valve trays.