Renewable Hydrocarbon Coprocessing for Cold Flow and Aromatic Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes struggle to efficiently produce liquid hydrocarbons from renewable sources that meet fuel specifications by addressing issues of high n-paraffin and aromatic content, which affect cold flow properties and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A process combining hydrotreated n-paraffin-rich and hydropyrolyzed aromatic-rich liquids, followed by hydrogenation and hydroisomerization, to reduce n-paraffin and aromatic content, improving cold flow properties and meeting fuel specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If renewable feedstocks are hydrotreated to remove oxygen, sulphur, and nitrogen, then the fuel quality is improved, but the n-paraffin content becomes too high which deteriorates cold flow properties
Solution Approach 1:
The process segments the treatment of different renewable feedstocks into separate streams: one stream (hydrotreated vegetable oils/animal fats) produces n-paraffin-rich liquid, while another stream (hydropyrolyzed biomass) produces aromatic-rich liquid. These segmented streams are then combined and reprocessed together to achieve synergistic effects that neither stream can achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two differently processed renewable liquid streams - the n-paraffin-rich liquid from hydrotreating and the aromatic-rich liquid from hydropyrolysis - into a combined feedstock. This merging allows the subsequent hydroisomerization step to simultaneously reduce n-paraffin content (improving cold flow) and manage aromatic content, resolving the cold flow property deterioration issue.
2Use of energy by moving object
If hydropyrolyzed aromatic-rich liquid is produced from biomass, then the aromatic content increases which improves energy density, but the environmental impact worsens due to higher aromatic emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines aromatic-rich liquid from hydropyrolysis with n-paraffin-rich liquid from hydrotreating to create a balanced mixed feedstock. The subsequent hydroisomerization process in the merged stream reduces aromatic content by approximately 50% while maintaining the energy density benefits, thus lowering aromatic emissions without sacrificing energy content.
Solution Approach 2:
The process converts the potentially harmful high aromatic content into a benefit by using it as a feedstock for hydroisomerization. The aromatic-rich liquid serves as a valuable carbon source that, when processed through the combined treatment, yields reduced aromatic emissions while maintaining fuel quality and energy density.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If n-paraffin content is reduced through hydroisomerization, then cold flow properties are improved, but the process complexity increases due to additional catalytic steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated hydroisomerization step that processes the combined renewable liquid feedstock. This single catalytic process simultaneously achieves n-paraffin conversion (improving cold flow), aromatic content reduction (lowering emissions), and fuel quality enhancement, thereby reducing overall process complexity compared to treating separate streams through multiple different processes.
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 process synergistically enhances cold flow properties and reduces aromatic content, producing a liquid hydrocarbon suitable for fuels and chemicals, with improved environmental performance.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the combined liquid to a hydrogenation catalyst and conditions sufficient to cause a hydrodearomatization reaction
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the dearomatized liquid to a hydroisomerization catalyst and conditions sufficient to cause a hydroisomerization reaction
Implementation Method 3
The renewable feedstocks are therefore hydrotreated to remove oxygen, sulphur, and nitrogen
Implementation Method 4
providing a second liquid produced by hydropyrolyzing a second renewable source selected from the group consisting of lignin, lignocellulosic material, cellulosic material, hemicellulosic material, waste plastic, municipal waste, and combinations thereof
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon from renewable sources includes combining first and second liquids, where the first liquid is produced by hydrotreating a first renewable source and the second liquid is produced by hydropyrolyzing a second renewable source. The first liquid has a n-paraffin content greater than or equal to 50 wt.%, while the second liquid has an aromatic content greater than or equal to 5 wt.%. The combined liquid has a first n-paraffin content and a first aromatic content before being subjected to a hydrogenation catalyst and conditions sufficient to cause a hydrodearomatization reaction, and a hydroisomerization catalyst and conditions sufficient to cause a hydroisomerization reaction. The resulting liquid hydrocarbon has a second n-paraffin content that is less than the first n-paraffin content and a second aromatic content that is less than the first aromatic content.