TSA PSA Regeneration Loop Clean-up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying olefin streams, particularly ethylene and propylene, are inefficient in removing contaminants like sulfur-containing compounds, organic oxygenates, and CO2, which can poison catalysts and reduce the quality of downstream olefin processing products.
Innovation Solution
A thermal swing adsorption (TSA) process using a solid adsorbent, such as a molecular sieve or zeolite, to remove contaminants from olefin streams, followed by regeneration with an inert gas and subsequent purification of the regeneration gas using a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to recover a contaminant-free gas for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thermal swing adsorption is used to purify olefin streams, then contaminant removal efficiency is improved, but regeneration gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers the regeneration gas by passing it through a second adsorbent bed where contaminants are removed, allowing the cleaned regeneration gas to be recycled back to the first adsorbent bed. This prevents loss of regeneration gas and reduces consumption while maintaining high contaminant removal efficiency in the olefin stream purification process.
Solution Approach 2:
A second adsorbent bed is introduced as an intermediary component to clean the regeneration gas before it is recycled. This intermediary system removes contaminants from the regeneration gas stream, enabling its reuse without introducing harmful substances back into the purification process, thus reducing overall gas consumption while maintaining purification efficiency.
2Loss of substance
If regeneration gas is reused without purification, then gas consumption is reduced, but catalyst poisoning risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A second adsorbent bed serves as an intermediary purification system that removes contaminants from the regeneration gas before it is recycled to the first adsorbent bed. This intermediary cleaning step prevents catalyst poisoning while enabling regeneration gas reuse, thus reducing gas consumption without introducing harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback loop where the regeneration gas is continuously purified and returned to the purification process. The second adsorbent bed provides feedback cleaning of the regeneration gas, ensuring that only clean gas is recycled, thereby preventing catalyst poisoning while maintaining reduced gas consumption.
3Device complexity
If traditional purification methods are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but contaminant removal efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two adsorption functions into one integrated system: the first adsorbent bed purifies the olefin stream while the second adsorbent bed purifies the regeneration gas. By combining these functions and recycling the cleaned regeneration gas back to the first bed, the system achieves high contaminant removal efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through a closed-loop design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual adsorbent bed system provides multi-functionality: both beds perform adsorption purification, but at different stages of the process (one for olefin stream, one for regeneration gas). This universal approach to purification using the same fundamental mechanism enhances contaminant removal efficiency while keeping the overall process conceptually simple and manageable.
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 process effectively reduces contaminant levels in olefin streams to below 1 ppm, preventing catalyst poisoning and improving the quality of olefin products, while also reducing the need for makeup regeneration gas and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
purification by passing an olefinic process stream, containing small amounts of impurities, through a particulate adsorbent bed
Implementation Method 2
regeneration of the adsorbent in a manner which improves the efficiency of the purification process
Data Source
AI summary
A process is disclosed for removing contaminants from an olefin stream, comprising passing the contaminated olefin stream through a first adsorbent in a thermal swing adsorption process to produce a relatively pure olefin product stream, and a regenerating gas stream containing the contaminants, passing the contaminated regenerating gas stream through a pressure swing adsorption process to yield a relatively pure regenerating gas stream, which can be redirected to the thermal swing adsorption process for regenerating the adsorbent therein.