V-Shaped Baffles in Fluidized Bed Desulfurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sulfur removal processes from hydrocarbon-containing fluids, such as hydrodesulfurization, often result in octane number reduction for gasoline and increased hydrogen consumption for diesel fuel, while fluidized bed reactors face inefficiencies due to gas flow deviations and solids backmixing, leading to suboptimal desulfurization.
Innovation Solution
A fluidized bed reactor system with vertically spaced, horizontally disposed V-shaped baffles enhances gas-solid contacting, using reduced-valence promoter metal and zinc oxide sorbent particulates to minimize sulfur content in hydrocarbon streams without significant hydrogen consumption, and includes a regenerator and reducer for sorbent regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrodesulfurization is used to remove sulfur from cracked-gasoline, then sulfur levels are reduced, but octane number decreases due to saturation of olefins and aromatics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the sorbent material from conventional hydrogen-based hydrodesulfurization catalysts to metal oxide sorbents (such as zinc oxide, calcium oxide, or magnesium oxide). This parameter change allows sulfur removal through adsorption and chemical reaction mechanisms that do not involve hydrogenation, thereby preserving the octane number of cracked-gasoline while achieving the required sulfur reduction levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional hydrodesulfurization mechanical/chemical system (which requires hydrogen gas and catalysts) with a solid sorbent-based system. The sorbent particles are introduced into the fluidized bed reactor where they directly contact and react with sulfur compounds in the hydrocarbon stream, eliminating the need for hydrogen and preventing octane degradation through alternative desulfurization chemistry.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrodesulfurization is used to remove sulfur from diesel fuel, then sulfur levels are reduced, but hydrogen consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs disposable or regenerable solid sorbent particles (such as metal oxides) that can be easily replaced or regenerated after use. These sorbents capture sulfur from diesel fuel through adsorption and chemical reaction, forming sulfur-containing compounds on the sorbent surface. The spent sorbents can then be regenerated by heating to remove sulfur, allowing multiple cycles of use without consuming hydrogen, thereby dramatically reducing operational costs and energy consumption compared to conventional hydrodesulfurization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the hydrogen-intensive hydrodesulfurization process with a solid sorbent-based desulfurization system. The sorbent particles directly react with sulfur compounds in the diesel fuel stream, eliminating the need for hydrogen gas supply, storage, and consumption. This substitution dramatically reduces both material costs and energy requirements while achieving the same sulfur removal efficiency.
3Temperature
If conventional fluidized bed reactor operation is used, then rapid mixing and isothermal conditions are achieved, but gas flow deviations and solids backmixing lead to inefficient gas-solid contacting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces internally structured sorbent particles containing porous cores and external active sites, segmenting the sorbent functionality into distinct zones. This segmentation creates controlled flow paths within the particle structure that enhance gas-solid contacting efficiency while maintaining the rapid mixing and isothermal conditions characteristic of fluidized bed operation. The porous internal structure provides additional surface area for sulfur removal without increasing external particle size, thereby improving desulfurization efficiency while preserving fluidized bed hydrodynamics.
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 system effectively reduces sulfur levels in hydrocarbon streams while maintaining octane numbers and minimizing hydrogen use, achieving efficient desulfurization with improved reactor performance by optimizing gas flow and solid particulate interaction.
Implementation Method 1
Solid particulates within the reaction zone are substantially fluidized by the gaseous hydrocarbon-containing stream
Implementation Method 2
reducing axial dispersion in the fluidized bed reactor
Implementation Method 3
contacting an upwardly flowing gaseous hydrocarbon-containing stream with finely divided solid sorbent particulates... to remove sulfur from the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method and apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream wherein desulfurization is enhanced by improving the contacting of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream and sulfur-sorbing solid particulates in a fluidized bed reactor.