Short-Flow Desulfurization of Circulating Hydrogen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating circulating hydrogen mixtures containing sulfur in hydrogenation processes are inefficient, leading to increased energy consumption, catalyst degradation, and significant losses of amine solutions due to entrapped particles and frothing, which poses challenges for long-cycle operation and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A short-flow process involving a de-hydrocarbon unit, a desulfurizer, and a de-amine unit is implemented to separate heavy hydrocarbons, sulfides, and amine solutions from the circulating hydrogen, utilizing a de-hydrocarbon unit with a sedimentation tank or coalescer, and a desulfurizer with a hydrocyclone to achieve high separation efficiency and reduce equipment failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a coalescer is used to remove solution and dust from circulating hydrogen, then separation efficiency is improved, but the cycle run time is limited to only one year before maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple coalescer elements arranged in parallel within the same housing, allowing the gas stream to be segmented and distributed across multiple separation surfaces. This segmentation increases the total effective separation area without increasing the overall device footprint, thereby improving separation efficiency while maintaining long cycle run time through redundant pathways that prevent clogging of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coalescer device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it removes both liquid solution droplets and solid dust particles from the circulating hydrogen stream using the same separation mechanism. The universal design eliminates the need for separate filtration stages, reducing pressure drop and improving overall separation efficiency while extending operational cycle time.
2Reliability
If the diameter of the coalescer is increased to achieve three years guaranteed long cycle run time, then reliability is improved, but cost and ground occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coalescer elements are nested within a single compact housing structure, with each element containing multiple separation stages arranged concentrically or in parallel. This nesting arrangement achieves the equivalent separation capacity of a much larger single-unit coalescer while occupying minimal ground space, thereby ensuring three-year reliability without increasing footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The coalescer elements are arranged in the vertical dimension rather than expanding horizontally, with multiple stages stacked one above another within the same ground footprint. This vertical arrangement increases the total separation area and reliability without increasing the horizontal ground occupation, solving the contradiction between long cycle run time and space constraints.
3Reliability
If a bypass system is equipped on the coalescer to ensure continuous operation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass functionality is merged into the main coalescer housing by arranging coalescer elements in parallel pathways within the same structure. When one element requires maintenance, the system automatically redirects flow through the remaining active elements without requiring external bypass piping or valves, thereby ensuring continuous operation while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coalescer system automatically redistributes the gas flow among remaining functional elements when one element is taken offline for maintenance. The internal flow distribution structure self-adjusts to maintain continuous operation without requiring external control systems or manual intervention, eliminating the need for complex bypass systems while ensuring reliability.
4Device complexity
If heavy hydrocarbons are not removed from circulating hydrogen, then process simplicity is maintained, but amine solution loss increases due to frothing
Solution Approach 1:
The coalescer is positioned to perform preliminary removal of heavy hydrocarbon droplets from the circulating hydrogen stream before the gas enters the amine solution contactor. By pre-separating these hydrocarbons, the system prevents the subsequent frothing problem that would cause amine solution loss, thereby reducing substance loss while maintaining overall process simplicity through a single integrated separation device.
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 results in a significant reduction of sulfides and amine solution losses, extended catalyst life, lower energy consumption, and improved hydrogen purity, with a 60% reduction in amine solution consumption and a 12% decrease in compressor energy usage, while ensuring safe and stable long-cycle operation.
Implementation Method 1
a de-hydrocarbon unit for removing hydrocarbons from the circulating hydrogen mixture, so that the liquid drops of the heavy hydrocarbons in the dispersion phase are separated from the circulating hydrogen in the continuous phase
Implementation Method 2
a de-hydrocarbon unit with a sedimentation tank or coalescer
Implementation Method 3
a desulfurizer with a hydrocyclone to achieve high separation efficiency
Implementation Method 4
a desulfurizer with a hydrocyclone
Implementation Method 5
a de-amine unit for further separating the resultant circulating hydrogen without sulfur to remove the amine solution therein
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a short-flow process for desulfurization of circulating hydrogen and a device for the same. A short-flow process for desulfurization of circulating hydrogen is provided, comprising: (a) removing hydrocarbons from the circulating hydrogen mixture, so that the liquid drops of the heavy hydrocarbons in the dispersion phase are separated from the circulating hydrogen in the continuous phase, and a heavy hydrocarbon phase and a mixture phase of circulating hydrogen containing sulfur are obtained; (b) further separating the resultant mixture phase to remove the sulfides therein, so that circulating hydrogen without sulfur is obtained; (c) further separating the resultant circulating hydrogen without sulfur to remove the amine solution therein, so that purified circulating hydrogen is obtained. The invention also provides a device for desulfurization of circulating hydrogen.