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US 10,688,407 B1Granted
Fractionation column with heat pump using high boiling point vapor
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsGregory A. Ernst, Jason L. Noe, Jason T. Corradi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process and apparatus ensure high on-stream reliability of a complex that requires a heat pump which is using a compound having a high boiling point, such as xylenes. When the compressor is shutdown, it can be isolated from the distillation column and receiver while the column is allowed to continue to operate with an auxiliary reboiler for constant heat input. The heat pump can be started up and heated to the normal process temperature, so that when the heavy vapor is charged to the heat pump, it does not immediately condense into liquid, causing damage to the compressor.
Claims17
A process for operating a distillation column including a heat pump using a high boiling point liquid comprising:
- providing a distillation column having an inlet, an overhead outlet, and a bottom outlet, the distillation column having a primary reboiler and an auxiliary reboiler;
- the overhead outlet of the distillation column being in selective upstream communication with a receiver;
- the overhead outlet of the distillation column being in selective upstream communication with a suction drum;
- the suction drum being in selective upstream communication with the receiver;
- the suction drum being in upstream communication with a heat pump;
- the heat pump being in selective upstream communication with the primary reboiler;
- and the primary reboiler being in selective upstream communication with the receiver;
- providing heat to the distillation column using the auxiliary reboiler;
- separating a high boiling point liquid feed stream in the distillation column into an overhead product vapor stream and a liquid bottom stream;
- isolating the suction drum from the overhead product vapor stream and the receiver, and isolating the primary reboiler from the receiver;
- sending the overhead vapor product stream from the distillation column directly to the receiver;
- introducing an inert non-condensable gas into a loop comprising the isolated suction drum and the heat pump to raise a temperature of the loop to a predetermined temperature;
- when the temperature of the loop reaches the predetermined temperature, introducing a portion of the overhead product vapor stream into the loop while reducing an amount of the overhead product vapor stream sent directly to the receiver and replacing the inert non-condensable gas with the overhead product vapor stream forming a circulating vapor stream, wherein the circulating vapor stream remains in the vapor phase in the heat pump;
- sending a heat pump discharge to the primary reboiler to provide additional heat to the distillation column;
- sending a primary reboiler condensate discharge to the receiver;
- reducing the amount of heat to the distillation column provided by the auxiliary reboiler;
- and
- recovering a product from the receiver.
15 more elements
A process for operating a distillation column including a heat pump using a high boiling point liquid comprising:
- providing a distillation column having an inlet, an overhead outlet, and a bottom outlet, the distillation column having a primary reboiler and an auxiliary reboiler;
- the overhead outlet of the distillation column being in selective upstream communication with a receiver;
- the overhead outlet of the distillation column being in selective upstream communication with a suction drum;
- the suction drum being in selective upstream communication with the receiver;
- the suction drum being in to upstream communication with a heat pump;
- the heat pump being in selective upstream communication with the primary reboiler;
- and the primary reboiler being in selective upstream communication with the receiver;
- selectively providing heat to the distillation column using the primary reboiler or the auxiliary reboiler to separate a high boiling point liquid into an overhead product vapor stream and a liquid bottom stream by:
- providing heat to the distillation column using the auxiliary reboiler;
- selectively sending at least a portion of an overhead vapor product stream from the distillation column directly to the receiver;
- recovering a first portion of a product from the receiver;
- isolating the suction drum from the overhead product vapor stream and the receiver, and isolating the primary reboiler from the receiver;
- switching from providing heat to the distillation column using the auxiliary reboiler to providing heat to the distillation column using the primary reboiler by:
- introducing an inert non-condensable gas into a loop comprising the heat pump to raise a to a predetermined temperature;
- when the temperature of the loop reaches the predetermined temperature, introducing a portion of the overhead product vapor stream into the loop while reducing an amount of the overhead product vapor stream sent directly to receiver and replacing the inert non-condensable gas with the overhead product vapor stream to form a recirculating vapor stream in a heat loop comprising the heat pump;
- selectively sending at least a portion of the overhead product vapor stream from the distillation column to the suction drum;
- sending a vapor stream from the suction drum to the heat pump and the recirculating vapor stream, wherein the recirculating vapor stream remains in the vapor phase in the heat pump;
- sending a heat pump discharge to the primary reboiler to provide heat to the distillation column;
- sending a primary reboiler condensate discharge to the receiver;
- and
- recovering a second portion of a product from the receiver.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.