Apparatus and system for combined temperature and pressure swing adsorption processes related thereto
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsBennett D. Marshall, Bruce T. Kelley, Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Harry W. Deckman, Robert A. Johnson, Shwetha Ramkumar, Russell H. Oelfke
Life of this patent
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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 pipeline quality natural gas to form a stream that complies with liquefied natural gas (LNG) specifications. The process may involve a combined TSA and PSA process, which is utilized to remove contaminants from the feed stream.
Claims25
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;
- 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 heating step, wherein the heating step comprises passing a heating stream at a heating temperature into the adsorbent bed unit, wherein the heating stream is passed in a countercurrent direction relative to the direction of the feed stream and the heating temperature is less than 500° F. (260° C.);
- d) performing purge step, wherein the purge step comprises passing a 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 a temperature differential exists at the end of the purge step in a range between 50° F. (27.8° C.) and 400° F. (222.2° C.), wherein the temperature differential is the difference in temperatures between a feed end of the adsorbent bed and a product end of the adsorbent bed;
- and
- e) repeating the steps a) to d) 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;
- a liquefied natural gas process unit in fluid communication with the adsorbent bed unit and configured to receive the product stream and separate the product stream into a final product stream and a flash fuel stream of high methane;
- and
- one or more purge units in fluid communication with the liquefied natural gas process unit and configured to provide a purge stream to the adsorbent bed unit, wherein the purge stream is provided from one of a portion of the product stream, the flash fuel stream of high purity methane, and any combination thereof;
- a heating mechanism in fluid communication with the adsorbent bed unit and configured to:
- pass a heating stream at a heating temperature into the adsorbent bed unit, wherein the heating stream is configured to create a temperature differential in a range between 50° F. (27.8° C.) and 400° F. (222.2° C.), wherein the temperature differential is the difference in temperatures between a feed end of the adsorbent bed and a product end of the adsorbent bed;
- and
- combine a portion of the heating stream with the purge stream that is passed through the adsorbent bed unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.