Sparger configuration for fluidized bed hydrocarbon partial oxidation reactors
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorsRamakrishnan Ramachandran, Prabhu Balaraman
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a sparger system provided for appropriately feeding reactant streams to fluidized bed reactors of hydrocarbon partial oxidation processes that are retrofitted to selectively recover and recycle unreacted hydrocarbons. As a result of the sparger system, the reactor productivity and selectivity is enhanced while employing only two spargers. Also, the capital cost required for retrofitting existing sparging equipment is minimized, while at the same time, the desired fluidization and catalyst oxidation characteristics are achieved without the formation of flammable mixtures within the sparging system.
Claims16
A sparger system for use in a recycle-based fluidized bed hydrocarbon partial oxidation reactor which comprises:
- (a) a first sparger for feeding a mixture of oxygen and air to said reactor;
- and
- (b) a second sparger for feeding a mixture of oxygen, recycled hydrocarbon, and fresh feed hydrocarbon to said reactor.
A method for feeding reactant streams to a recycle-based reactor comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first sparger disposed in the bottom portion of said reactor;
- (b) feeding a mixture of oxygen and air to said first sparger;
- (c) providing a second sparger above said first sparger;
- and
- (d) feeding a mixture of oxygen, recycled hydrocarbon, and fresh feed hydrocarbon to said second sparger.
A continuous method for the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feed comprising the steps of:
- (a) feeding a mixture of oxygen and air to a first sparger disposed in the bottom portion of a reactor;
- (b) feeding a mixture of oxygen and fresh feed hydrocarbon to a second sparger disposed within said reactor above said first sparger;
- and
- (c) recycling unreacted hydrocarbon from said reactor, whereby said unreacted hydrocarbon is fed back to said reactor via said second sparger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.