Method and apparatus utilizing hydrocarbon pollutants from glycol dehydrators
OwnerD. Jeffrey Hill, E. Todd Wigginsinventors
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Abstract
An environmentally safe apparatus for reclaiming uncondensed hydrocarbons normally exhausted to the atmosphere from the still column of a glycol dehydrator system, and utilizing the uncondensed hydrocarbons as fuel in the burner of a reboiler fire-tube by natural draft of the fire-tube exhaust stack.
Claims5
In a method for recovering water and aromatic hydrocarbons evaporated from glycol in a still column mounted on a reboiler, having a fire-tube provided with a fuel and air intake end, in a glycol regenerating apparatus, the improvement comprising:
- (a) passing water and hydrocarbons vapor from said still column to a vapor condenser;
- (b) passing uncondensed vapors from said vapor condenser to a condensate separator;
- (c) passing effluent from said vapor condenser and said separator to a self emptying container;
- and,
- (d) passing non-condensable hydrocarbon vapors from said condensate separator through a hydrocarbon vapor and air mingler at the fuel and air intake end of the fire-tube in said reboiler, whereby the only gaseous discharge from the reboiler regenerating apparatus is combustion products from the reboiler fire-tube.
In an apparatus for recovering water and aromatic hydrocarbons evaporated from glycol comprising a glycol regenerating apparatus including a still column, said regenerator apparatus also including an over temperature controller and a thermostat temperature control on a reboiler section having a fire-tube therein including a burner having a fuel and air intake end portion and an opposite exhaust stack end portion extending therefrom, the improvement comprising:
- a water and hydrocarbon gas vapor condenser means downstream from said still column including separate outlets for water and condensed hydrocarbons and uncondensed hydrocarbons;
- an uncondensed hydrocarbons separator downstream from said vapor condenser and having separate outlets for water and condensed hydrocarbons and uncondensed hydrocarbons;
- a self emptying to storage liquid receiving container down stream from the water and condensed hydrocarbons outlet of said vapor condenser and said separator;
- a conduit extending from said separator for conveying uncondensed hydrocarbons to said burner;
- and,
- an air and uncondensed hydrocarbons mingle means interposed between said conduit and said burner for forming a combustible mixture entering said burner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.