# US 10,766,835 B2 · System and method for separation of propylene and propane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,835 B2 - Document ID: US10766835B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/330,850 - Filed: 2017-08-21 - Published: 2019-07-04 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-07 - Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V. - Applicants: Sabic Global Technologies B.V. - Inventors: Joris Van Willigenburg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766835B2 ## CPC - C07C 7/005: {Processes comprising at least two steps in series} - B01D 1/28: with vapour compression - B01D 3/007: {Energy recuperation; Heat pumps} - B01D 3/14: Fractional distillation {or use of a fractionation or rectification column} - C07C 7/04: by distillation - C07C 7/09: by fractional condensation - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - 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) ## Abstract A separation system for separating a feed stream comprising propylene and propane and a method for separating such feed stream. The separation system includes a distillation column for producing a light stream comprising propylene and a heavy stream comprising propane; a reboiler for reboiling a part of the first heavy stream to produce a boiled heavy stream; a condenser for cooling the light stream to produce a condensed light stream; and an absorption refrigerator for receiving water and providing chilled water, for receiving hot water from a waste heat source and providing a cooled hot water and for receiving cooling water and providing a heated cooling water. The absorption refrigerator is arranged such that the cooling of the water and the hot water occurs by the cooling water. The condenser is arranged such that the cooling of the light stream occurs by the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for separating a feed stream comprising propylene and propane using a separation system comprising: i) a distillation column for producing a light stream comprising propylene and a heavy stream comprising propane, ii) a reboiler for reboiling a part of the first heavy stream to produce a boiled heavy stream, iii) a condenser for cooling the light stream to produce a condensed light stream, and iv) an absorption refrigerator for receiving water and providing chilled water by the vaporization of a circulating refrigerant, wherein the absorption refrigerator is arranged to receive hot water from a waste heat source to provide heat for the circulation of the refrigerant, and provide cooled hot water, wherein the condenser is arranged such that the cooling of the light stream occurs by the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) feeding the feed stream to the distillation column and collecting a part of the first heavy stream from the separation system, b) feeding a part of the heavy stream to the reboiler and feeding back the boiled heavy stream to the distillation column and c) feeding back a part of the condensed light stream to the distillation column as reflux and collecting a part of the condensed light stream from the separation system; wherein the hot water is quench water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feed stream comprises 2-98 wt. % of propylene and 98-2 wt. % of propane with respect to the total feed stream. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feed stream comprises 40-70 wt. % of propylene and 60-40 wt. % of propane with respect to the total feed stream. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feed stream comprises 80-98 wt. % of propylene and 20-2 wt. % of propane with respect to the total feed stream. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feed stream is a product of a propane dehydrogenation process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator has a temperature of at most 10° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator has a temperature of at most 15° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the hot water has a temperature in the range of 70-95° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quench water has been heated by means of heat recovery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quench water was used in a steam cracking process. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the part of the first heavy stream collected from the separation system comprises at least 80 wt. % of propane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quench water was used in a steam cracking process and has a temperature of 75-85° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the feed stream is a product of a propane dehydrogenation process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator has a temperature of at most 10° C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator has a temperature of at most 15° C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the hot water has a temperature in the range of 70−95° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the quench water has been heated by means of heat recovery. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the part of the condensed light stream collected from the separation system comprises at least 98 wt. % of propylene. ### Claim 19 A method for separating a feed stream comprising propylene and propane using a separation system comprising: i) a distillation column for producing a light stream comprising propylene and a heavy stream comprising propane, ii) a reboiler for reboiling a part of the first heavy stream to produce a boiled heavy stream, iii) a condenser for cooling the light stream to produce a condensed light stream, and iv) an absorption refrigerator for receiving water and providing chilled water by the vaporization of a circulating refrigerant, wherein the absorption refrigerator is arranged to receive hot water from a waste heat source to provide heat for the circulation of the refrigerant, and provide cooled hot water, wherein the condenser is arranged such that the cooling of the light stream occurs by the chilled water from the absorption refrigerator, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) feeding the feed stream to the distillation column and collecting a part of the first heavy stream from the separation system, b) feeding a part of the heavy stream to the reboiler and feeding back the boiled heavy stream to the distillation column and c) feeding back a part of the condensed light stream to the distillation column as reflux and collecting a part of the condensed light stream from the separation system, wherein the cooled hot water from the absorption refrigerator is fed to the reboiler for providing heat for producing the boiled heavy stream.