System and method for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization
AssigneeAlternative Environmental Technologies Sulfex Corp.
InventorsJack Lawrence Waldron, Kylen J. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization system having at least one processing unit, and preferably an initial and an end processing unit. Each processing unit having a reactor assembly and a sorption system. An aqueous system directs aqueous into the reactor assembly together with liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the two are mixed using shear mixers. An adsorbent system provides adsorbent to the sorption column to adsorb the oxidized sulfur resulting through the mixing of the liquid hydrocarbon with the aqueous. A system having multiple processing units is disclosed, as well as systems for transferring adsorbent and providing aqueous. A plurality of methods is likewise disclosed.
Claims18
A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of:
- providing an initial processing unit and an end processing unit, the initial processing unit having an initial reactor assembly and an initial sorption system, the end processing unit having an end reactor assembly, a separator and an end sorption system;
- feeding a liquid hydrocarbon having a sulfur content into the initial reactor assembly;
- feeding an aqueous feed into the initial reactor assembly;
- reacting the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous feed to the initial sorption system;
- feeding a sorbent into the initial sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon from the initial sorption system to the end reactor assembly;
- directing the aqueous feed from the initial sorption system to the end reactor assembly;
- reacting the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed to the separator;
- separating the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed from each other in the separator;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon from the separator to the end sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon in the end sorption system with a sorbent;
- and
- removing the liquid hydrocarbon.
A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of:
- providing an initial processing unit and an end processing unit, and at least one middle processing unit therebetween, the initial processing unit having an initial reactor assembly and an initial sorption system, the end processing unit having an end reactor assembly, a separator and an end sorption system, and the at least one middle processing unit having a middle reactor assembly and a middle sorption system;
- feeding the liquid hydrocarbon having a sulfur content into the initial reactor assembly;
- feeding an aqueous feed into the initial reactor assembly;
- reacting the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed to the initial sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon with a sorbent in the initial sorption system;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon from the initial sorption system to the at least one middle reactor assembly;
- directing the aqueous feed from the initial sorption system to the at least one middle reactor assembly;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon with a sorbent in the at least one middle sorption system;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon from the at least one middle sorption system to the end reactor assembly;
- directing the aqueous feed from the at least one middle sorption system to the end reactor assembly;
- reacting the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed to the separator;
- separating the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed from each other in the separator;
- directing the liquid hydrocarbon from the separator to the end sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon with a sorbent in the end sorption system;
- and
- removing the liquid hydrocarbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.