Distillation column pressure control
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsBruce R. Beadle, Jason L. Noe, Sara A. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling the pressure of distillation columns, for example those operating under vacuum pressure and conventionally equipped with a steam ejector system, are described. Representative distillation columns are used in the separation of thermally unstable components, such as the physical solvent sulfolane, having relatively low volatility. Such columns are employed in aromatic hydrocarbon extraction processes for the recovery of purified C6-C8 aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed stream (e.g., obtained from the catalytic reforming of naphtha).
Claims20
A method for controlling pressure in a distillation column operating at sub-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:
- (a) cooling and condensing a first part of a vapor fraction, removed from the distillation column, with a cooler;
- and
- (b) controlling a flow of a second part of the vapor fraction, bypassing the cooler, to control the pressure,
- wherein the vapor fraction removed from the distillation column is enriched in a second component that is more volatile that a first component present in the distillation column, and the first component is a physical solvent.
A method for controlling pressure in a distillation column operating at sub-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:
- (a) cooling and condensing a first part of a vapor fraction, removed from the distillation column, with a cooler, wherein the first part of the vapor fraction is cooled to a temperature from about 25° C. (77° F.) to about 45° C. (113° F.);
- and
- (b) controlling a flow of a second part of the vapor fraction, bypassing the cooler, to control the pressure.
A method for controlling pressure in a distillation column operating at sub-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:
- (a) cooling and condensing a first part of a vapor fraction, removed from the distillation column, with a cooler;
- and
- (b) controlling a flow of a second part of the vapor fraction, bypassing the cooler, to control the pressure;
- wherein a flow control valve controls the flow of the second part of the vapor fraction in response to a measured pressure, relative to a setpoint pressure, in the distillation column or in an overhead receiver of the distillation column, wherein the measured pressure is in a vapor space in the overhead receiver of the distillation column and the setpoint pressure is from about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) to about 1 bar (14.5 psi).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.