Mercury removal and methane conversion process using a supersonic flow reactor
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsDean E. Rende, Jayant K. Gorawara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of mercury from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of mercury and mercury containing compounds in the hydrocarbon stream.
Claims15
A method for producing acetylene comprising:
- introducing a feed stream portion of a hydrocarbon stream comprising methane into a supersonic reactor;
- pyrolyzing the methane in the supersonic reactor to form a reactor effluent stream portion of the hydrocarbon stream comprising acetylene;
- and
- treating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream in a contaminant removal zone to remove mercury from the hydrocarbon stream that is contacted with a catalyst or an adsorbent material comprising one or more adsorbents to remove mercury.
A method for controlling a contaminant level in a process stream in the production of acetylene from a methane feed stream, the method comprising:
- introducing a feed stream portion of a hydrocarbon stream comprising methane into a supersonic reactor;
- pyrolyzing the methane in the supersonic reactor to form a reactor effluent stream portion of the hydrocarbon stream comprising acetylene;
- and
- maintaining the concentration of mercury in the hydrocarbon stream.
A system for producing acetylene from a methane feed stream comprising:
- a supersonic reactor for receiving a methane feed stream and configured to convert at least a portion of methane in the methane feed stream to acetylene through pyrolysis and to emit an effluent stream including the acetylene;
- a hydrocarbon conversion zone in communication with the supersonic reactor and configured to receive the effluent stream and convert at least a portion of the acetylene therein to another hydrocarbon compound in a product stream;
- a hydrocarbon stream line for transporting the methane feed stream, the reactor effluent stream, and the product stream;
- and
- a contaminant removal zone in communication with the hydrocarbon stream line for removing mercury from one of the methane feed stream, the effluent stream, and the product stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.