# US 10,478,772 B2 · Process to decouple regeneration gas compressor from regeneration gas treating > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,772 B2 - Document ID: US10478772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/614,995 - Filed: 2017-06-06 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-31 - Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Applicants: Sean T. Philbrook; Kevin N. Stanley - Inventors: Sean T. Philbrook; Kevin N. Stanley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478772B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/44: Organic components - B01D 3/14: Fractional distillation {or use of a fractionation or rectification column} - B01D 53/002: {by condensation} - B01D 53/0438: {Cooling or heating systems} - B01D 53/265: {by refrigeration (condensation)} - C09K 5/041: {for compression-type refrigeration systems} - F02C 9/50: with control of working fluid flow - B01D 2257/602: Mercury or mercury compounds - B01D 2257/702: Hydrocarbons - B01D 2257/80: Water - B01J 20/3408: {of aluminosilicate molecular sieves} - C09K 2205/12: Hydrocarbons - F01P 2003/001: {Cooling liquid} - F02C 7/143: before or between the compressor stages - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) ## Abstract A method for continuously treating a regeneration gas stream used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption vessel is disclosed. The regeneration gas stream is cooled in a cooler to a temperature suitable to condense liquids therein. A separator removes liquids condensed in the regeneration gas stream. The regeneration gas stream is compressed in a compressor. The regeneration gas stream is flowed through the cooler, the separator, and the compressor when the compressor is operational. The regeneration gas stream is flowed through the second cooler and the second separator but not the compressor when the compressor is not operational, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for continuously treating a regeneration gas stream used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption vessel, comprising: cooling the regeneration gas stream in a cooler to a temperature suitable to condense liquids in the regeneration gas stream; in a separator, removing liquids condensed in the regeneration gas stream; compressing the regeneration gas stream in a compressor; flowing the regeneration gas stream through the cooler, the separator, and the compressor when the compressor is operational; and flowing the regeneration gas stream through the cooler and the separator but not the compressor when the compressor is not operational, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cooler is a first cooler and the separator is a first separator, and further comprising: cooling the regeneration gas stream in a second cooler to remove at least part of the heat added to the regeneration gas stream when the regeneration gas stream is compressed by the compressor; in a second separator, removing liquids condensed in the second cooler; arranging the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor between first and second isolation valves; opening the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is operational, to permit the regeneration gas stream to flow to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor; and closing the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is not operational, to prevent the regeneration gas stream from flowing to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: permitting the regeneration gas stream to bypass the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor after passing through the first cooler and the first separator, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: flaring the regeneration gas stream when the regeneration gas stream is permitted to bypass the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: recovering vapor from the regeneration gas stream when the regeneration gas stream is permitted to bypass the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing contaminants from the regeneration gas stream in a process vessel that is located so that the regeneration gas stream flows therethrough when the compressor is operational and when the compressor is not operational. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the process vessel removes mercury from the regeneration gas stream. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: separating heavy hydrocarbon liquids from the regeneration gas stream in the first separator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: cooling the regeneration gas stream in the first cooler to a temperature at which heavy hydrocarbons condense. ### Claim 10 A method for continuously treating a regeneration gas stream used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption vessel, comprising: cooling the regeneration gas stream in a first cooler to a temperature suitable to condense liquids in the regeneration gas stream; in a separator, removing liquids condensed in the regeneration gas stream; cooling the regeneration gas stream in a second cooler to perform at least one of (a) removing any remaining heat in the regeneration gas stream to bring the regeneration gas stream down to a desired process temperature, and (b) removing heat of compression added to the regeneration gas stream by a compressor when the compressor is operating in a recycle mode, wherein the second cooler is sized to accommodate the larger of a heat duty required for (a) or a heat duty required for (b); in a second separator, removing liquids condensed in the second cooler; compressing the regeneration gas stream in the compressor; arranging the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor between first and second isolation valves; opening the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is operational, to permit the regeneration gas stream to flow to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor; closing the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is not operational, to prevent the regeneration gas stream from flowing to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor; and opening a bypass valve to permit the regeneration gas stream to be flared or flowed to a vapor recovery system when the first and second isolation valves are closed, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: removing contaminants from the regeneration gas stream in a process vessel that is located so that the regeneration gas stream flows therethrough when the compressor is operational and when the compressor is not operational.