Oxygen Removal in Ethane Dehydrogenation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for oxidative dehydrogenation processes, such as ethane oxidative dehydrogenation to produce ethylene, fail to effectively reduce oxygen content in product streams to acceptable levels, leading to handling and recovery issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a combination of an oxygen removal reactor with a catalyst and an absorber unit using oxygen absorbents like molecular sieves to sequentially reduce oxygen content, followed by heating and cooling processes to optimize oxygen removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional oxidative dehydrogenation process is used, then ethylene production is achieved, but oxygen content in product stream remains high causing handling and recovery problems
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen removal process is divided into multiple sequential stages: first stage oxygen removal reactor, second stage oxygen removal reactor, and absorber unit. Each stage progressively reduces oxygen content to achieve the target of less than 500 ppmv while maintaining ethylene production.
Solution Approach 2:
Oxygen removal catalysts and oxygen absorbents are introduced as intermediary substances to facilitate oxygen removal from the product stream. The catalysts promote oxygen consumption reactions while absorbents physically capture oxygen, enabling effective oxygen reduction without directly affecting ethylene.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oxygen removal catalysts and absorbents are added, then oxygen content is reduced to less than 500 ppmv, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple oxygen removal reactors and absorber units are combined into an integrated oxygen removal system. The reactors and absorbers work in sequence to progressively reduce oxygen content, achieving high removal efficiency while consolidating the complexity into a unified process train.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes temperature and pressure parameter changes across different stages to optimize oxygen removal efficiency. Heating the product stream before oxygen removal and controlling operating conditions in each reactor and absorber maximizes the effectiveness of catalysts and absorbents.
3Reliability
If product stream is heated to 100-600°C before oxygen removal, then oxygen removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The product stream is pre-heated to 100-600°C before entering the oxygen removal reactors to activate the oxygen removal catalysts and enhance reaction kinetics. This preliminary heating ensures optimal conditions for oxygen consumption reactions while managing energy input efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The exothermic oxygen removal reactions that would otherwise generate unwanted heat are converted into a beneficial source of process heat. The heat generated by oxygen consumption reactions is utilized to maintain temperature in subsequent reactors and absorbers, reducing external heating requirements.
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 achieves significant oxygen removal, with total oxygen removal rates exceeding 99% and oxygen content reduction to less than 500 ppmv, improving the quality of the ethylene product stream.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the oxidative dehydrogenation product with at least one oxygen removal catalyst in at least one oxygen removal reactor
Implementation Method 2
contacting the first effluent stream with at least one oxygen absorbent in at least one absorber unit
Implementation Method 3
heating the oxidative dehydrogenation product to a temperature of 100° C. to 600° C.
Implementation Method 4
cooling the first effluent stream to a temperature of 25° C. to 130° C.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for removing oxygen from at least one product stream of a hydrocarbon oxidative dehydrogenation process. More specifically, in some embodiments, the oxidative dehydrogenation process is an ethane oxidative dehydrogenation process for producing ethylene.