Normal Paraffin Production via Fischer-Tropsch Stream Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Fischer-Tropsch process for producing normal paraffins requires high temperatures, leading to corrosion and equipment size issues, and involves complex distillation and hydrogenation steps, making it inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A process that separates the Fischer-Tropsch product stream into gaseous and liquid streams, cools and separates them further, and then subjects the resulting liquid streams to hydrogenation and atmospheric distillation to produce normal paraffins, reducing equipment size and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the whole Fischer-Tropsch product stream is used for hydrogenation to prepare normal paraffins, then the production capacity is improved, but high temperatures are required which lead to corrosion of distillation column, heat exchanger and additional equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidcorrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The Fischer-Tropsch product stream is divided into two separate streams: a gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The liquid stream is selected for hydrogenation to produce normal paraffins, while the gaseous stream is processed separately. This segmentation allows the hydrogenation process to operate at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing corrosion of equipment while maintaining production capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the whole Fischer-Tropsch product stream is hydrogenated to prepare normal paraffins, then the production capacity is improved, but the equipment size increases requiring larger distillation column and hydrogenation unit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidequipment size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The Fischer-Tropsch product stream is divided into two separate streams: a gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The liquid stream is selected for hydrogenation to produce normal paraffins, while the gaseous stream is processed separately. This segmentation allows the hydrogenation process to operate at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing corrosion of equipment while maintaining production capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the whole Fischer-Tropsch product stream is hydrogenated to prepare normal paraffins, then the production capacity is improved, but a distillation of the feed is needed which increases process complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The Fischer-Tropsch product stream is divided into two separate streams: a gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The liquid stream is selected for hydrogenation to produce normal paraffins, while the gaseous stream is processed separately. This segmentation allows the hydrogenation process to operate at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing corrosion of equipment while maintaining production capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the whole Fischer-Tropsch product stream is hydrogenated to prepare normal paraffins, then the production capacity is improved, but more energy is required for heating and distillation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The Fischer-Tropsch product stream is divided into two separate streams: a gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The liquid stream is selected for hydrogenation to produce normal paraffins, while the gaseous stream is processed separately. This segmentation allows the hydrogenation process to operate at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing corrosion of equipment while maintaining production capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 process simplifies the production line, reduces corrosion risks, allows for smaller-scale production, and lowers energy requirements while producing a lighter paraffin composition with less energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

separating the Fischer-Tropsch product stream of step (a), thereby obtaining a first gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a first liquid hydrocarbon stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

cooling and separating of the first gaseous hydrocarbon stream of step (b) in two or more steps to obtain a second liquid hydrocarbon stream and a third liquid hydrocarbon stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

subjecting the second and third liquid hydrocarbon streams of step (c) to a hydrogenation step, thereby obtaining a hydrogenated liquid hydrocarbon stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Implementation Method 4

separating the hydrogenated liquid hydrocarbon stream of step (d) by one or more atmospheric distillation(s), thereby obtaining a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 5 to 9 carbon atoms, a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 10 to 13 carbon atoms, a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 14 to 18 carbon atoms, and a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 19 to 35 carbon atoms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Data Source

PatentUS10934492B2Process to prepare normal paraffins

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 SHELL USA INC

AI summary

A process for preparing normal paraffins involves separating a Fischer-Tropsch product stream to obtain first gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon streams. The first gaseous hydrocarbon stream is cooled and separated to obtain a second liquid hydrocarbon stream and a third liquid hydrocarbon stream, which are hydrogenated. The hydrogenated liquid hydrocarbon stream is separated by distillation to obtain a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 5 to 9 carbon atoms, a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 10 to 13 carbon atoms, a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 14 to 18 carbon atoms, and a hydrogenated normal paraffin fraction comprising 19 to 35 carbon atoms.