Hydrocarbon separating process
AssigneeThe British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
InventorsBrian Tait Lauder, John Robert Kenneth Rolfe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cyclic, vapor-phase, pressure swing process for the separation of n-paraffins from a mixture with non-straight chain hydrocarbons comprises the steps of adsorption purge and desorption. Purge effluent is recycled through a bed of a 5 A molecular sieve in an adsorption stage and an effluent of reduced n-paraffin content is recovered. The bed is purged to remove surface adsorbed and interstitial matter by reducing the pressure in the bed by direct contact condensation with fresh feed introduced at or near ambient temperature. A purge effluent is recovered for recycle to stage (1). The bed is then desorbed to recover n-paraffins by further reducing the pressure in the bed.
Claims10
A cyclic, vapour phase, pressure swing process for the separation of n-paraffins from a mixture thereof with nonstraight chain hydrocarbons comprising the steps of adsorption, purge and desorption, which process comprises
- 1. recycling purge effluent mixed with feedstock through a bed of a 5A molecular sieve in an adsorption stage and recovering an effluent of reduced n-paraffin content,
- 2. purging the bed to remove surface adsorbed and interstitial matter by reducing the pressure in the bed by direct contact condensation of the purge effluent with fresh feed introduced at or near ambient temperature and recovering said purge effluent-feedstock mixture for recycle to Stage (1), and
- 3. desorbing the bed to recover n-paraffins by further reducing the pressure in the bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.