Apparatus and process for extracting sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsLuigi Laricchia, Jonathan A. Tertel, Allen W. Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and process for extracting sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. A prewash section for converting hydrogen sulfide to sodium sulfide by reaction with an alkali such as caustic communicates with an extractor section disposed directly above the prewash section for converting mercaptans to mercaptides by reaction with alkali. Hydrocarbon product exits the extractor section through a coalescer that prevents alkali from exiting with the hydrocarbon product stream.
Claims20
An apparatus for converting sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon stream, said apparatus comprising:
- a prewash section for converting hydrogen sulfide to sodium sulfide;
- a hydrocarbon feed conduit with an inlet in communication with said prewash section;
- an extractor section for converting mercaptans to mercaptides, said extractor section being disposed directly above said prewash section;
- a hydrocarbon product conduit with an outlet in communication with said extractor section;
- and
- a conduit having an outlet in communication with the prewash section and an inlet in communication with the extractor section.
A process for converting sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon stream comprising:
- feeding a hydrocarbon stream containing sulfur compounds to a prewash section containing alkali to convert hydrogen sulfide to sodium sulfide;
- withdrawing a prewashed hydrocarbon stream from said prewash section;
- feeding said prewashed hydrocarbon stream to an extractor section to convert mercaptans to mercaptides, said extractor section being directly above said prewash section;
- and
- withdrawing an extracted hydrocarbon stream containing mercaptides from said extractor section.
An apparatus for converting sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon stream, said apparatus comprising:
- an extractor section for converting mercaptans to mercaptides;
- a hydrocarbon feed conduit with an outlet in communication with said extractor section proximate a bottom of said extractor section;
- a hydrocarbon product conduit with an inlet in communication with said extractor section proximate a top of said extractor section;
- a structure for facilitating contact between alkali and hydrocarbon disposed between the outlet of said hydrocarbon feed conduit and the inlet of said hydrocarbon product inlet;
- an alkaline conduit with an inlet disposed below the outlet to said hydrocarbon feed conduit;
- and
- a coalescer in said extractor section disposed between the inlet to said hydrocarbon product conduit and a top of said structure for facilitating contact between alkali and hydrocarbon, said coalescer permitting no more than 1 ppm of alkali from passing therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.