Olefin Production Separation System for Inert Paraffin Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing of lower olefins, the recycling of remaining products in Zeolite catalysts is inefficient, leading to the concentration of inert paraffins and reduced conversion rates, necessitating continuous removal of convertible substances along with inerts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a separation system that extracts a paraffin-rich fraction before recycling, allowing only convertible substances to be fed back to the catalyst, and using selective polar solvents in extractive distillation to enhance purity and reduce inert circulation, thereby optimizing the recirculation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If remaining products are recycled to the Zeolite catalyst for renewed conversion, then conversion efficiency is improved, but inert paraffins accumulate in the recirculation stream reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts inert paraffins from the recirculation stream through a separation system before feeding the stream back to the Zeolite catalyst. This removal of harmful inert substances prevents their accumulation and maintains high conversion efficiency in the catalyst while still allowing beneficial convertible substances to be recycled.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation stream is treated differently at different stages: convertible substances are preserved for recycling while inert paraffins are selectively removed. This differential treatment maintains the quality of the recirculating stream by ensuring only valuable convertible materials return to the catalyst.
2Quantity of substance
If continuous removal of convertible substances is performed along with inerts, then inert concentration is reduced, but loss of convertible substances occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The separation system selectively extracts only inert paraffins from the recirculation stream while leaving convertible substances intact. This selective extraction approach removes harmful inerts without causing loss of valuable convertible materials that could be further processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation system exploits differences in physical or chemical parameters between inert paraffins and convertible substances to achieve selective separation. By changing separation parameters (such as using specific solvents or separation conditions), the system distinguishes between inert and convertible components, removing only the inert fraction.
3Productivity
If separation system extracts paraffin-rich fraction, then olefin yield is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separation system uses extraction methodology to isolate the paraffin-rich fraction from the reaction mixture. This extraction approach efficiently increases olefin yield by removing paraffins that would otherwise interfere with the reaction or require additional processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation system acts as an intermediary between the reactor and the product stream, using selective separation mechanisms (such as extractive distillation with polar solvents) to enhance olefin recovery while managing the complexity through standardized separation equipment.
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 increases the yield of lower olefins by minimizing inert circulation, preventing catalyst contamination, and allowing for the direct commercial utilization of high-purity paraffin-rich fractions, while optimizing the recirculation process to maintain efficient conversion rates.
Implementation Method 1
using selective polar solvents in extractive distillation to enhance purity and reduce inert circulation
Implementation Method 2
using selective polar solvents in extractive distillation
Implementation Method 3
conversion by a catalyst, whereby the second reaction mixture is processed
Data Source
AI summary
Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).