US 5,332,492 AGranted

PSA process for improving the purity of hydrogen gas and recovery of liquefiable hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous effluent streams

AssigneeUop LLC

InventorsRichard T. Maurer, Michael J. Mitariten, Roger J. Weigand, Michael Whysall

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Abstract

A process for recovering hydrogen-rich gases and increasing the recovery of liquid hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbon conversion zone effluent is improved by a particular arrangement of a refrigeration zone, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) zone, and up to two separation zones. The admixing of at least a portion of the tail gas from the PSA zone with a hydrogen-rich gas stream recovered from a first vapor-liquid separation zone results in significantly improved hydrocarbon recoveries and the production of a high purity hydrogen product. The process is especially beneficial in the integration of the catalytic reforming process with vapor hydrogen consuming processes such as catalytic hydrocracking in a petroleum refinery.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas stream by treating an effluent comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon from a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone comprising the steps of:

(a) passing at least a portion of said effluent to a first vapor-liquid separation zone and recovering therefrom a first hydrogen-rich gas stream having an initial hydrogen purity and a first liquid stream comprising hydrocarbons;
(b) admixing a portion of the first hydrogen-rich gas stream, at least a portion of a tail gas stream, and at least a portion of the first liquid stream to produce a first admixture;
(c) passing the first admixture to a second vapor-liquid separation zone to produce a second hydrogen-rich gas stream and a second liquid stream;
(d) passing said second hydrogen-rich gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption zone containing an adsorbent selective for the separation of hydrogen from hydrocarbons and separating said second hydrogen-rich gas stream into a third hydrogen-rich stream and the tail gas stream;
and,
(e) recovering at least a portion of said third hydrogen-rich stream as a high purity hydrogen product.

3 more elements

A process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas stream by treating an effluent comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon from a catalytic reforming zone comprising the steps of:

(a) passing at least a portion of said effluent to a first vapor-liquid separation zone and recovering therefrom a first hydrogen-rich gas stream and a first liquid reformate stream comprising hydrocarbons;
(b) admixing at least a portion of the first hydrogen-rich gas stream and at least a portion of a tail gas stream to produce a first admixture;
(c) contacting the first admixture in a recontacting zone with at least a portion of the first liquid reformate stream to provide a recontacted hydrogen stream and a second liquid reformate stream;
(d) admixing said recontacted hydrogen stream and at least a portion of said second liquid reformate stream to provide a second admixture;
(e) refrigerating said second admixture to a recovery temperature to provide a refrigerated second admixture and passing the refrigerated second admixture to a second vapor-liquid separation zone to provide a second hydrogen-rich gas stream and a third liquid reformate stream;
(f) passing the second hydrogen-rich gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption zone to provide a high purity hydrogen product stream and the tail gas stream;
and,
(g) recovering at least a portion of said tail gas stream for use as fuel.

5 more elements

A process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas stream by treating an effluent comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon from a catalytic reforming reaction zone comprising the steps of:

(a) passing at least a portion of said effluent to a first vapor-liquid separation zone and recovering therefrom a first hydrogen-rich gas stream and a first liquid stream comprising hydrocarbons;
(b) cooling at least a portion of the first hydrogen-rich gas stream by indirect heat exchange with a second hydrogen-rich gas stream to provide a first heat exchanged hydrogen-rich gas stream;
(c) cooling a portion of the first liquid stream comprising about 10 to 50 vol. % of the total first liquid stream in indirect heat exchange with a second liquid stream to provide a precooled first liquid stream;
(d) admixing the first heat exchanged hydrogen-rich gas stream and the precooled first liquid stream to produce a first admixture;
(e) passing the first admixture to a second vapor-liquid separation zone to produce a third hydrogen-rich gas stream and a third liquid stream;
(f) refrigerating at least one of said third hydrogen-rich gas stream and said precooled first liquid stream and admixing said first heat exchanged hydrogen-rich gas stream with said precooled first liquid stream to obtain a refrigerated second admixture;
(g) passing the refrigerated second admixture to a third vapor-liquid separation zone to produce said second hydrogen-rich gas stream and a fourth liquid stream;
(h) combining said third and fourth liquid streams to produce said second liquid stream and recovering said second liquid stream after the indirect heat exchange with a portion of the first liquid stream;
(i) passing said second hydrogen-rich gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption zone to provide a hydrogen-rich product stream and a tail gas stream;
and,
(j) admixing at least a portion of said tail gas stream with said portion of said first hydrogen-rich gas stream prior to said indirect heat exchange with the second hydrogen-rich gas stream.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.