Vessel Head Flushing with Desorbent Lean Stream
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Solution Overview
Problem
In petroleum refining and petrochemical processes, the use of desorbent as a flush fluid in simulated moving bed processes leads to inefficiencies and contamination risks due to structural damage from differential pressures and inefficient fluid management in pressure vessels with flat partitions, resulting in energy wastage and contamination of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A method where a portion of the desorbent lean stream from the fractionation process is used as a flush fluid to maintain the structural integrity of the pressure vessel heads, reducing contamination and energy consumption by eliminating the need for desorbent recovery and purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If desorbent is used as flush fluid in the head space, then the head space can be flushed effectively, but energy is wasted and the desorbent must be recovered and purified via fractionation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (desorbent) from the flushing operation by introducing a dedicated flush fluid that enters through a separate port at the apex of the head space. This allows the desorbent to be removed from the system without requiring energy-intensive recovery and purification processes, while still achieving effective head space flushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediator substance (flush fluid) that performs the flushing function without the negative consequences of using desorbent. The flush fluid serves as an intermediary that can be easily removed or disposed of without requiring fractionation, thereby eliminating the energy waste associated with desorbent recovery while maintaining effective head space cleaning.
2Ease of operation
If flat partitions are used in pressure vessels, then fluid distribution and collection can be achieved, but the partitions are subject to structural damage from differential pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces flat partitions with curved or spherical head spaces that are inherently more resistant to differential pressure. The curved geometry distributes stress more evenly across the structure, eliminating the structural damage problems associated with flat partitions while maintaining effective fluid distribution and collection through the rounded configuration.
3Stress or pressure
If a small opening or port is provided in the partition for equalization, then pressure balancing can be achieved, but process fluid may pass into the head space causing loss in yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure equalization function from the process fluid pathway by providing a separate dedicated port at the apex of the head space. This separate equalization port allows pressure balancing to occur independently without creating a pathway for process fluid to escape into the head space, thereby eliminating yield loss while maintaining pressure equilibrium.
4Reliability
If flow reversal is used to flush the head space, then contamination can be addressed, but there is potential to contaminate the process and final product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flushing operation from the process fluid stream by introducing a separate flush fluid through a dedicated port. This separate flushing system allows head space contamination to be addressed without reversing process fluid flow, thereby eliminating the risk of contaminating the process and final product while still achieving effective head space cleaning.
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 enhances the efficiency and reduces energy consumption by utilizing a fraction of the desorbent lean stream as a flush fluid, minimizing contamination and structural damage, thereby optimizing the process yield and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an extract stream from the simulated moving bed adsorption zone is separated in a first fractionation zone into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream
Implementation Method 2
the overhead stream being rich in desorbent, the bottoms stream including the product and additional compounds
Implementation Method 3
a feed stream is passed into a simulated moving bed adsorption zone having at least one vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A process for flushing the rounded top head and rounded bottom head of a vessel used in an adsorption process in which the rounded top head and the rounded bottom head of the vessel are flushed with a flush fluid. The extract stream from the adsorption process is split into a desorbent rich stream and desorbent lean steam. The flushing fluid is a fraction separated from a desorbent lean split of the extract stream.