Apparatus and system for swing adsorption processes related thereto
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsAnanda K. Nagavarapu, Ransdall K. Smith, Russell H. Oelfke
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Abstract
Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing streams through adsorbent bed units to treat the feed stream to form a stream that complies with nitrogen rejection specifications. The process may involve using at least a portion of the nitrogen rejection process product streams as a purge for the swing adsorption process.
Claims22
A process for removing contaminants from a gaseous feed stream, the process comprising:
- a. performing one or more adsorption steps, wherein each of the one or more adsorption steps comprise passing a gaseous feed stream through an adsorbent bed unit having an adsorbent bed to separate one or more contaminants from the gaseous feed stream to form a product stream that is conducted away to a nitrogen rejection unit configured to form a methane stream and a nitrogen stream;
- b. performing one or more depressurization steps, wherein the pressure within the adsorbent bed unit is reduced by a predetermined amount with each successive depressurization step;
- c. performing a purge step, wherein the purge step comprises passing a first purge stream into the adsorbent bed unit, wherein the purge stream is passed in a countercurrent direction relative to the direction of the feed stream and wherein the first purge stream comprises at least a portion of the methane stream;
- and
- d. repeating the steps a) to c) for at least one additional cycle, wherein the cycle duration is for a period greater than 1 second and less than 600 seconds.
A system for removing contaminants from a gaseous feed stream, the system comprising:
- an adsorbent bed unit configured to separate contaminants from a gaseous feed stream and to output a product stream, wherein the adsorbent bed unit comprises an adsorbent bed and the adsorbent bed unit is configured to perform a rapid cycle swing adsorption process;
- a nitrogen rejection unit in fluid communication with the adsorbent bed unit and configured to receive the product stream and separate the product stream into a methane stream and a nitrogen stream;
- and
- wherein the adsorbent bed unit is configured to pass a first purge stream through the adsorbent bed, wherein the first purge stream is passed in a countercurrent direction relative to the direction of the feed stream and wherein the purge stream comprises at least a portion of the methane stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.