Supported Ionic Liquid Reactor for Alkylation Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical reactors face challenges in achieving high product selectivity and efficiency in alkylation and oligomerization processes, particularly in controlling reaction heat and maintaining catalyst activity, especially when producing high-value hydrocarbon products like gasoline blending components, naphtha, and lubricants.
Innovation Solution
A chemical reactor design incorporating an ionic liquid supported on a porous solid, which serves as an adsorbent and promoter for Brønsted acid catalysts, along with a chloroaluminate ionic liquid as an adsorbent and promoter for gaseous HCl catalysts, allowing for controlled heat management through volatile hydrocarbon evaporation, optimizing reaction conditions for high conversion rates and product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an ionic liquid is supported on a porous solid to serve as adsorbent and promoter for Brønsted acid catalyst, then catalyst activity and product selectivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining ionic liquid with porous solid support to create a supported ionic liquid catalyst system. This composite structure provides both the catalytic activity of the Brønsted acid and the adsorption/promotion properties of the porous support, resolving the contradiction between catalyst activity and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous solid materials as support for the ionic liquid. The porous structure provides high surface area for catalyst dispersion, enhanced adsorption capacity for reactants, and improved mass transfer, thereby increasing catalyst activity without requiring complex device modifications
2Productivity
If chloroaluminate ionic liquid is used as adsorbent and promoter for gaseous HCl catalyst, then oligomerization efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and composition parameters by using chloroaluminate ionic liquid instead of conventional liquid acids. This parameter change enables gaseous HCl to be effectively utilized as catalyst while simplifying the manufacturing process through a single-reactant system that improves oligomerization efficiency
3Temperature
If volatile hydrocarbon is used to evaporate and control heat of reaction, then temperature control is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service principle by using volatile hydrocarbon components of the reactant mixture itself as the cooling medium. The evaporation of these hydrocarbons absorbs reaction heat, providing self-regulating temperature control without requiring external cooling systems or additional energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition (evaporation) of volatile hydrocarbons to control reaction temperature. The endothermic evaporation process absorbs excess heat from the exothermic oligomerization reaction, maintaining optimal temperature conditions while using the reaction mixture's own components
4Manufacturing precision
If independent control of reactant residence times is implemented, then product selectivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reaction process by implementing independent residence time control for different reactants (isobutane and olefins). This segmentation allows optimization of contact time for each reactant type, improving product selectivity for desired alkylate and oligomer products while using standard reactor configurations
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 configuration enables high conversion rates of olefins (>95 wt %) and produces high-quality liquid hydrocarbons with enhanced properties, such as high smoke points and viscosity indices, while maintaining reactor efficiency and scalability, and allows for independent control of reactant residence times, optimizing process outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an ionic liquid, supported on a porous solid... wherein the ionic liquid serves as an adsorbent and promoter for the Brønsted acid
Implementation Method 2
a volatile hydrocarbon, which evaporates to control a heat of reaction in the chemical reactor
Data Source
AI summary
A chemical reactor, comprising:a) an ionic liquid, supported on a porous solid; andb) a Brønsted acid; wherein the ionic liquid serves as an adsorbent and promoter for the Brønsted acid, and the Brønsted acid is a catalyst for alkylation, oligomerization, or a combination thereof of a hydrocarbon mixture comprising at least one alkylatable hydrocarbon and at least one alkylating agent in the chemical reactor. Also, a chemical reactor, comprising:a) a gaseous HCl, which is a catalyst for oligomerization of olefins;b) a chloroaluminate ionic liquid, supported on a porous solid, wherein the chloroaluminate ionic liquid serves as an adsorbent and promoter for the catalyst;and c) a volatile hydrocarbon, which evaporates to control a heat of reaction in the chemical reactor.