Sugar Alcohol Split Injection for Hydrotreating Catalyst Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for converting biomass into automotive fuels face issues such as catalyst fouling, high temperatures, short catalyst lifetime, increased production of coke byproducts, and corrosiveness, limiting scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the hydrotreating of liquefied biomass with diesel feedstock, where the sugar alcohol stream is split and injected along the catalyst bed, and diesel is injected at the top, to moderate catalyst bed temperature and reduce coke production, using commercial hydrotreating catalysts like Co/Mo or Ni/Mo on alumina support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high temperature and high catalytic activity are used to increase conversion rate, then productivity is improved, but catalyst fouling worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The sugar alcohol stream is divided into multiple streams and injected at different locations along the catalyst bed, distributing the conversion load throughout the bed rather than concentrating it at one point, thereby reducing localized fouling while maintaining overall conversion rate
Solution Approach 2:
Diesel diluent is introduced as an intermediary substance that moderates the reaction temperature and reduces coke formation, allowing the catalyst to operate at high conversion rates without excessive fouling
2Productivity
If high temperature is used to increase conversion rate, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Diesel diluent serves as a mediator that absorbs excess heat and reduces the formation of coke byproducts, enabling high conversion rates to be achieved without the harmful side effects of excessive coke production
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of diesel diluent changes the thermal and chemical parameters of the reaction environment, moderating temperature and shifting the reaction pathway to reduce coke formation while maintaining conversion rate
3Use of energy by moving object
If noble metal catalysts are used to operate at lower temperatures, then energy consumption is reduced, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Diesel diluent acts as an intermediary that enables the use of less expensive non-noble metal catalysts by moderating the reaction conditions, thereby reducing both temperature requirements and catalyst cost while maintaining acceptable conversion rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cheaper non-noble metal catalysts that can be replaced more frequently, using the diesel diluent to extend their operational life by reducing fouling, thereby achieving cost-effectiveness through material substitution rather than relying on expensive noble metals
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 prevents catalyst damage, reduces coke production, and achieves high conversion of polyols to alkanes, enabling the production of high-octane fuels like methyl-cyclopentane, thus enhancing the scalability and cost-effectiveness of biomass conversion.
Implementation Method 1
diesel diluent is injected into the reactor at the top of the catalyst bed... to moderate the temperature of the catalyst bed
Implementation Method 2
sugar alcohol to hydrocarbon via a hydrotreating process... converts nearly all of the polyols to alkanes
Implementation Method 3
mitigate the potential coking issue... increased production of coke byproducts
Data Source
AI summary
A method of hydrotreating liquefied biomass feedstock with diesel feedstock to produce alkanes is demonstrated that prevents damage to the reactor catalyst, reduces coke production, and converts nearly all of the polyols to alkanes. In order to mitigate the potential coking issue and to moderate the temperature of the catalyst bed while maintaining high conversion for sugar alcohol to hydrocarbon via a hydrotreating process, a diesel feedstock is fed over the reactor catalyst with multiple injections of polyol feedstock along the reactor.