Separation of olefin vapor from liquid fraction to reduce fouling
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsCor F. Van Egmond, Michael J. Veraa, Steven E. Silverberg, Michael P. Nicoletti, John Richard Shutt
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Abstract
This invention is directed to methods of removing water and other condensable materials, as well as solids particles such as catalyst particles, from olefin product streams so as to reduce fouling in the liquid and vapor separation equipment. In order to reduce fouling or contamination in the condensing or quenching process, this invention includes adding a hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid fraction in an amount that effects separation of the liquid fraction into upper and lower fractions.
Claims21
A process for separating an olefin stream, comprising:
- condensing a portion of the olefin stream to form a liquid fraction containing olefin, water, and particulate solids;
- adding hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the liquid fraction in an amount to effect separation of the liquid fraction into an upper and lower fraction, the upper fraction containing fewer of the particulate solids than the lower fraction;
- and
- separating the upper fraction from the lower fraction;
- wherein the hydrocarbon comprises one or more C8 to C18 hydrocarbons;
- the hydrocarbon has a specific gravity less than that of toluene and has a surface tension of no greater than 28 dynes/cm at 25° C.
A process for separating an olefin stream produced from an oxygenate feed into a vapor and liquid fractions, comprising:
- contacting the oxygenate feed with a molecular sieve catalyst to form an olefin stream;
- condensing a portion of the olefin stream to form an olefin vapor and a condensed liquid, wherein the liquid comprises water and molecular sieve catalyst particles;
- separating the olefin from the condensed liquid;
- adding hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid to effect separation of the condensed liquid fraction into at least an upper fraction and a lower fraction so the lower fraction contains a majority of the water and the molecular sieve catalyst particles present in the condensed liquid;
- and
- separating the upper fraction from the lower fraction;
- wherein the hydrocarbon comprises one or more C8 to C18 hydrocarbons;
- the hydrocarbon has a specific gravity less than that of toluene and has a surface tension of no greater than 28 dynes/cm at 25° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.