System and method for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization
AssigneeAlternative Petroleum Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJack Lawrence Waldron, Kylen J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims21
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;
- shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the initial reactor assembly, to, in turn, react 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 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;
- shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the end reactor assembly, to, in turn, react 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;
- feeding a sorbent into the end sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon;
- 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 a liquid hydrocarbon having a sulfur content into the initial reactor assembly;
- feeding an aqueous feed into the initial reactor assembly;
- shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the initial reactor assembly, to, in turn, react 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 liquid hydrocarbon from the initial sorption system to the at least one middle reactor;
- directing the aqueous feed from the initial sorption system to the at least one middle reactor;
- feeding a sorbent into the at least one middle reactor;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon;
- directing 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;
- shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the end reactor assembly, to, in turn, react 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;
- feeding a sorbent into the end sorption system;
- adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon;
- and
- removing the liquid hydrocarbon.
A system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurizing comprising:
- an initial processing unit, the initial processing unit having
- a reactor assembly including a reactor vessel and a recirculatory system structurally configured to recirculate fluid within the reactor vessel;
- a sorption system having an inlet in fluid communication with the reactor assembly, an inlet for absorbent, and at least one hydrocarbon outlet;
- an end processing unit, the end processing unit having
- an end reactor assembly including an end reactor vessel and an end recirculatory system structurally configured to recirculate fluid within the end reactor vessel;
- a separator in fluid communication with the end reactor assembly, the separator having an outlet for liquid hydrocarbon and an outlet for an aqueous feed;
- and
- an end sorption system having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet for liquid hydrocarbon, an inlet for absorbent and an outlet for liquid hydrocarbon,
- wherein the at least one hydrocarbon outlet of the sorption system is coupled to the end reactor assembly so as to be in fluid communication therewith.
21-26. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.