Ethylene oxide plant operation
AssigneeSD Lizenzverwertungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG Lenbachplatz 6
InventorsBarry Billig, James Mann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an ethylene oxide process, the stripping and reabsorption operations, normally carried out in separate vessels, are carried out in a single vessel which is divided by a baffle into separate sections where reabsorption and stripping are carried out.
Claims20
A vessel for use in conjunction with an ethylene oxide recovery/stripping system which vessel comprises an outer wall defining a closed single column, an internal dividing baffle dividing the column into a reabsorption section and a separate stripping section, an inlet for introducing a vapor stream comprising ethylene oxide into the reabsorption section useful for reabsorbing the ethylene oxide in an absorbent, and a line for introducing the reabsorbed ethylene oxide into the stripping section, for stripping contained carbon dioxide from the reabsorbed ethylene oxide.
An ethylene oxide recovery/stripping system which comprises:
- a vessel comprising an outer wall defining a closed single column;
- an internal dividing baffle for dividing the column into a reabsorption section and a separate stripping section, means for introducing a vapor stream comprising ethylene oxide into the reabsorption section, the reabsorption section including means for reabsorbing the ethylene oxide in aqueous absorbent;
- means for introducing the reabsorbed ethylene oxide in aqueous absorbent into the stripping section, the stripping section including means for stripping contained carbon dioxide from the reabsorbed ethylene oxide.
A process for recovering ethylene oxide from aqueous ethylene oxide absorber liquid, comprising the steps of:
- i) providing a vessel which comprises an outer wall defining a single column, an internal dividing baffle for dividing the column into a reabsorption section and a separate stripping section, an inlet for introducing a vapor stream comprising ethylene oxide into the reabsorption section, the reabsorption section including means for reabsorbing the ethylene oxide in an aqueous absorbent, a line for introducing the reabsorbed ethylene oxide in the aqueous absorbent into the stripping section, the stripping section including means for stripping contained carbon dioxide from the reabsorbed ethylene oxide;
- ii) introducing a vapor stream comprising ethylene oxide into the reabsorption section;
- iii) passing the vapor stream over a lower packing bed within the reabsorption section;
- iv) contacting the vapor stream with a cooled circulation solution such that a portion of ethylene oxide is absorbed into the circulation solution;
- v) passing unabsorbed ethylene oxide and any inerts through at least one upper packing bed of the reabsorption such that the remainder of the ethylene oxide is absorbed in aqueous absorbent and removed from the inerts;
- vi) removing inerts from the vessel;
- vii) transporting reabsorbed ethylene oxide in aqueous absorbent to the top of the stripping section;
- viii) stripping the reabsorbed ethylene oxide of carbon dioxide;
- and ix) passing the stripped ethylene oxide out of the vessel.
A vessel which comprises an outer wall defining a closed single column, a baffle within the outer wall dividing the column into a reabsorption section and a separate stripping section;
- at least one absorbent packing bed in the reabsorption section, and at least one stripping packing bed in the stripping section;
- an inlet for introducing a fluid stream into the reabsorption section and through the absorbent packing bed to produce an absorbed fluid, a line for introducing the absorbed fluid into the stripping section and through the stripping packing bed to produce stripped fluid, and an outlet for discharging the stripped fluid from the stripping section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.