Pre-Cooled Solvent Recycle in Olefin Oligomerization Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oligomerization processes face challenges in controlling exothermicity and optimizing equipment size and costs, particularly in the production of α-olefins used as comonomers in polyethylene processes, where external cooling and recirculation loops are energy-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A process that involves cooling and recycling a solvent fraction from a downstream separation step to control exothermicity in the reactor, reducing the need for large heat exchangers and optimizing the recirculation loop volume by integrating the cooled solvent fraction into the reaction section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external cooling and recirculation loops are used to control exothermicity, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption and equipment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction mixture itself serves as the cooling medium by circulating it through external heat exchangers. The system uses its own thermal mass and flow to remove excess heat, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the recirculating solvent by cooling it in heat exchangers before reintroduction to the reactor. This parameter modification allows the cooled solvent to absorb reaction heat more effectively, improving temperature control while reducing the overall energy requirement compared to continuous high-volume recirculation
2Stability of the object's composition
If recirculation loops are implemented to control exothermicity, then temperature homogeneity is improved, but equipment size and investment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of recirculating the entire reaction mixture volume, the invention applies partial action by circulating only a portion of the solvent through heat exchangers. This partial recirculation is sufficient to maintain temperature homogeneity while significantly reducing the size of pumps, pipes, and heat exchanger equipment required
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation system serves multiple functions: it maintains temperature homogeneity, provides cooling capacity, and enables heat removal. By designing the system to perform these multiple functions with a single integrated approach, the equipment size is optimized rather than requiring separate systems for each function
3Power
If large heat exchangers are used to manage exothermicity, then heat removal capacity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention establishes continuous circulation of the solvent through the heat exchangers and reactor, maintaining constant heat removal capacity without requiring oversized equipment. The continuous flow ensures that heat is progressively removed throughout the process, allowing for more compact and economically manufacturable heat exchanger design
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 reduces heat exchange requirements, decreases the size of recirculation loops, and enhances the process's productivity and profitability by improving the catalytic system's performance and selectivity.
Implementation Method 1
a step of cooling the solvent fraction resulting from step b) to a temperature below the temperature of the recirculation loop(s)
Implementation Method 2
so as to partly control the exothermicity generated by the oligomerization reaction in the reactor
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the oligomerization of an olefinic feedstock characterized in that a solvent fraction resulting from a downstream separation step is cooled and recycled.