Reformate Stream Hydrocarbon Analysis via Cooling and Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring hydrocarbon content in intermediate streams of steam-hydrocarbon reforming processes is challenging due to high pressure, high temperature, and high water and ammonia content, making existing commercial sampling systems unsuitable.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cooling the reformate sample stream to condense water, dividing it into vapor and liquid fractions, removing ammonia, and using a chemical component analyzer to measure hydrocarbon content in the vapor fraction, which has been cooled and dried to reduce water and ammonia levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If commercial sampling systems designed for flue gas are used to measure intermediate streams, then the measurement system is simple and cost-effective, but the systems are not suited for high pressure, high temperature, and high water/ammonia content conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is divided into multiple functional components: a sampling probe for high-temperature/pressure environments, a cooling section with heat exchangers to reduce temperature and condense water, a separation section to remove condensed water and ammonia, and an analysis section for hydrocarbon measurement. Each component is optimized for its specific function, allowing the overall system to handle harsh conditions while enabling accurate measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediary components are introduced between the harsh measurement environment and the sensitive analysis instruments. The cooling section acts as an intermediary to reduce temperature, the water separation section removes high water content, and the ammonia removal section eliminates ammonia interference. These intermediaries protect the analysis instruments while enabling measurement of the original stream.
2Measurement precision
If gas chromatography is used to measure hydrocarbon content, then measurement accuracy is achieved, but delays and high costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sample stream undergoes preliminary treatment before analysis, including cooling to condense water, separation to remove condensed water, and ammonia removal. This preliminary action prepares the sample in advance, preventing interference during the actual measurement process and enabling faster, more accurate results without requiring complex post-processing or repeated measurements.
3Quantity of substance
If the reformate sample stream is cooled to condense water, then water content is reduced for better measurement, but the cooling process adds complexity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling section utilizes phase transition by cooling the reformate sample stream to condense water vapor into liquid water. This phase change enables efficient water removal through condensation, reducing water content from high levels to measurement-compatible levels. The condensed water is then easily separated in the water separation section.
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 method effectively characterizes hydrocarbon content in reformate sample streams, allowing for improved energy efficiency and productivity by adjusting steam flow rates, while minimizing delays and costs associated with gas chromatography.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the reformate sample stream in a first heat exchanger to condense a portion of the H2O in the reformate sample stream thereby forming a liquid fraction and a vapor fraction
Implementation Method 2
cooling the vapor fraction-enriched stream to within a temperature ranging from 0°C to 10°C or ranging from 2°C to 7°C to condense H2O in the vapor fraction-enriched stream
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Method for characterizing the hydrocarbon content of a reformate sample stream. Water and ammonia are removed from the sample stream and the hydrocarbon content is measured using a chemical component analyzer.