Method and apparatus for addition of an alkali metal promoter to a dehydrogenation catalyst
AssigneeFina Technology, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a first conduit adapted to transport a first stream of an alkali metal salt, the first conduit comprising at least one opening through which the first stream can exit the first conduit;
- a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, wherein the second conduit is adapted to transport a second stream comprising steam, wherein a portion of the second conduit contains the at least one opening of the first conduit and is adapted for dissipation of the first stream into the second stream to form a third stream;
- wherein the second conduit contains the at least one opening of the first conduit forming a mixing chamber, wherein a diffuser is located downstream of the at least one opening of the first conduit in the mixing chamber to dissipate the first stream into the second stream, wherein the first stream is vaporized concurrently into the second stream to form a first solution, wherein the portion of the first conduit containing the at least one opening is disposed within the second conduit in a substantially concentric arrangement;
- and
- a weir adapted to restrict a flow of any of alkali metal salt that is not dissipated into the second stream, wherein the weir is located downstream from the at least one opening of the first conduit and upstream of a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
A method of revamping an existing facility for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to make styrene utilizing a potassium promoted iron based catalyst comprising:
- adding an apparatus to a steam input stream for vaporizing an alkali metal salt into the steam input stream, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first conduit adapted to transport a first stream of the alkali metal salt, the first conduit comprising at least one opening through which the first stream can exit the first conduit;
- a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, wherein the second conduit is adapted to transport a second stream comprising steam, wherein a portion of the second conduit contains the at least one opening of the first conduit and is adapted for dissipation of the first stream into the second stream to form a third stream, wherein the second conduit contains the at least one opening of the first conduit forming a mixing chamber, wherein a diffuser is located downstream of the at least one opening of the first conduit in the mixing chamber to dissipate the first stream into the second stream, wherein the first stream is vaporized concurrently into the second stream to form a first solution, wherein the portion of the first conduit containing the at least one opening is disposed within the second conduit in a substantially concentric arrangement;
- and
- a weir adapted to restrict a flow of any of alkali metal salt that is not dissipated into the second stream, wherein the weir is located downstream from the at least one opening of the first conduit and upstream of a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
An apparatus for supplying a potassium carboxylate catalyst life extender to a reaction chamber loaded with an iron oxide based, alkali metal promoted, dehydrogenation catalyst used to prepare a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon from a feed stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon, the apparatus comprising:
- a first conduit adapted to transport a first stream of a potassium carboxylate, the first conduit having at least one opening through which the first stream can exit the first conduit;
- a second conduit, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit containing the at least one opening is disposed within the second conduit, wherein the second conduit is adapted to transport a second stream comprising steam, wherein the apparatus is adapted to dissipated the first stream into the second stream as the first stream exits the first conduit, forming a third stream containing vaporized potassium carboxylate in solution with steam, wherein the second conduit contains the at least one opening of the first conduit forming a mixing chamber, wherein a diffuser is located downstream of the at least one opening of the first conduit in the mixing chamber to dissipate the first stream into the second stream, wherein the first stream is vaporized concurrently into the second stream to form a first solution, wherein the portion of the first conduit containing the at least one opening is disposed within the second conduit in a substantially concentric arrangement;
- and
- a weir adapted to restrict a flow of any of potassium carboxylate that is not dissipated into the steam, wherein the weir is located downstream from the at least one opening of the first conduit and upstream of the reaction chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.