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US 2004/0188237 A1Published application
Plant and method for vacuum distillation of hydrocarbon liquids
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorThomas Hugh Musial
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum distillation system and method utilizing a low capacity vacuum producing ejector operated in parallel with a primary ejector during the Winter months enables significant reduction in the absolute pressure of a vacuum distillation column. Operation of a vacuum distillation tower at lower absolute pressures results in increased yield of desirable vacuum distillation products.
Claims18
A plant for vacuum distillation of a liquid comprising:
- a. a vacuum distillation column having a pipeline for receiving a heated feed, a gaseous-vapor discharge pipeline and at least one liquid discharge pipeline for discharging at least one liquid fraction;
- b. a first condenser;
- c. a primary vacuum producing ejector having an inlet end connected to the gaseous-vapor discharge pipeline and an outlet end connected to the first condenser;
- d. at least one auxiliary vacuum producing ejector having an inlet end connected to the gaseous-vapor discharge pipeline and an outlet end connected to the first condenser;
- e. at least one second stage vacuum producing ejector having an inlet end connected to the first condenser and an outlet end connected to at least one of the first condenser, a second condenser, a condensate collection vessel or a product discharge pipeline.
2 more elements
A method for vacuum distillation of a hydrocarbon liquid during cool season months comprising the steps of:
- a. feeding the hydrocarbon liquid to a vacuum distillation column;
- b. evacuating a first hydrocarbon-vapor product from the distillation column by a primary ejector and at least one auxiliary ejector;
- c. circulating a cooling water stream through a first condenser and at least one second condenser;
- d. at least partially condensing the first hydrocarbon-vapor product in the at least one condenser to form a first condensate and second hydrocarbon vapor product;
- e. discharging the first condensate to a condensate collection vessel and evacuating the second hydrocarbon vapor by at least one second stage ejector to at least one second condenser.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.