CN105377402A - Method for extracting natural gas liquids from natural gas using an adsorbent media comprising a partially pyrolized macroporous polymer - Google Patents

Method for extracting natural gas liquids from natural gas using an adsorbent media comprising a partially pyrolized macroporous polymer Download PDF

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CN105377402A
CN105377402A CN201480040673.8A CN201480040673A CN105377402A CN 105377402 A CN105377402 A CN 105377402A CN 201480040673 A CN201480040673 A CN 201480040673A CN 105377402 A CN105377402 A CN 105377402A
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natural gas
adsorbent
macroporous
polymer
propane
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S·T·麦特斯
H·R·戈尔茨
A·N·巴达维尔
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Dow Global Technologies LLC
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    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L3/00Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
    • C10L3/06Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04
    • C10L3/10Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
    • C10L3/101Removal of contaminants
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D53/00Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/02Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
    • B01J20/20Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/26Synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • B01J20/268Polymers created by use of a template, e.g. molecularly imprinted polymers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/28Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
    • B01J20/28054Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties characterised by their surface properties or porosity
    • B01J20/28057Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/28Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
    • B01J20/28054Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties characterised by their surface properties or porosity
    • B01J20/28088Pore-size distribution
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/3078Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/20Organic adsorbents
    • B01D2253/202Polymeric adsorbents
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/30Physical properties of adsorbents
    • B01D2253/302Dimensions
    • B01D2253/306Surface area, e.g. BET-specific surface
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/30Physical properties of adsorbents
    • B01D2253/302Dimensions
    • B01D2253/31Pore size distribution
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2256/00Main component in the product gas stream after treatment
    • B01D2256/24Hydrocarbons
    • B01D2256/245Methane
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/70Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
    • B01D2257/702Hydrocarbons
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L2290/00Fuel preparation or upgrading, processes or apparatus therefore, comprising specific process steps or apparatus units
    • C10L2290/12Regeneration of a solvent, catalyst, adsorbent or any other component used to treat or prepare a fuel
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L2290/00Fuel preparation or upgrading, processes or apparatus therefore, comprising specific process steps or apparatus units
    • C10L2290/54Specific separation steps for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • C10L2290/541Absorption of impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L2290/00Fuel preparation or upgrading, processes or apparatus therefore, comprising specific process steps or apparatus units
    • C10L2290/54Specific separation steps for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • C10L2290/542Adsorption of impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L3/00Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
    • C10L3/12Liquefied petroleum gas

Abstract

A method is disclosed for the separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons or propane and heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas to provide a methane-rich natural gas stream and less volatile natural gas liquids (NGLs). This method provides for passing a natural gas feedstream though a regenerable adsorbent media which adsorbs the NGLs to provides the methane rich natural gas product. The regenerable adsorbent media of the present invention is a pyrolized macroporous polymer adsorbent media.

Description

The adsorbing medium comprising partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer is used to extract the method for natural gas liquid from natural gas
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of from natural gas be separated ethane and more heavy hydrocarbon or propane and more heavy hydrocarbon to provide the method for the natural gas flow that is rich in methane and the less natural gas liquid of volatility.Specifically, the method provides the purposes of the renewable adsorbing medium regenerated by effective ways.
Background technology
Natural gas forms primarily of saturated hydrocarbon component, as methane, ethane, propane, butane and more heavy hydrocarbon.Natural gas is usually containing 60-100 molar percentage methane of having an appointment, and all the other are more heavy paraffin hydrocarbon mainly.The alkane that carbon number increases exists with reduction usually.Carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen and other gas can also be there is.
Be separated from natural gas and be called that the higher alkane of natural gas liquid (NGL) exists many reasons to provide the natural gas flow being rich in methane.This type of reason is to meet pipeline specifications or liquefied natural gas (LNG) specification about calorific value, dew point and condensation.The BTU level of the natural gas containing elevated level NGL can be 1058 or larger, and the BTU value of typical conduit or LNG specification is 1028BTU.Some systems (as gas combustion system), and if through design to operate under higher BTU at narrow BTU range of operation, so may need high maintenance cost, compared with High Operating Temperature, equipment life expectancy reduces and/or the pollution of generation increases.
In addition, can be required economically from liquid natural gas recovery.The NGL comprising ethane, propane, butane and other heavy hydrocarbon of less amount can be used as petrochemical material, wherein its have with its as Gas Components value compared with higher value.
In other cases, gas be cooperatively produce with oil and the concentration of NGL can be between air-flow zero point a little percentage to tens of percentage tremendous range in.This gas can have bad quality due to the carbon dioxide of high-load, nitrogen and other component.Gas flow rate may be less and pipeline is taken to produce the separation point position of natural gas be usually uneconomic, and this type of gas is sometimes referred to as idle gas.In these cases, best replacement scheme is the described gas of burning.But the gas that NGL is rich in burning may have remarkable negative effect to environment, causes a large amount of CO 2air is injected with heat.Can being stored in storage tank for subsequent transportation except the value through being separated NGL of sale except catching, shifting out NGL to reduce the CO be bootlessly released to environment from gas 2amount and heat will to environmental benefits.
There are two basic steps from natural gas flow separating natural gas-liquid.First, must from natural gas extracting liq.Secondly, these natural gas liquids self must be separated into its solvent.The two kinds of principle art shifting out NGL from natural gas flow are oil-absorption process and cryogenic expansion machine method.These two kinds of methods account for about 90% of the production of total natural gas liquid.
The absorption process that NGL extracts utilizes absorption oil NGL to affinity.Before any NGL taken away by oil, it is called as " poor " has absorbed oil.Along with natural gas is by absorption tower, it contacts with the absorption oil absorbing NGL at high proportion." richness " now containing NGL absorbs oil and leaves absorption tower via bottom.It is the mixture absorbing oil, propane, butane, pentane and other more heavy hydrocarbon now.Rich oil is fed to distillation oil-poor in, wherein mixture is heated to above NGL boiling point but lower than the temperature of oily boiling point.The method allows to reclaim the butane of about 75% and the pentane of 85 to 90% and more weight molecule from natural gas flow.
Although there is many known adsorption methods, always exist compromise between high-recovery and method simplicity (i.e. low capital investment).Common adsorption technology focuses on shifting out of hydrocarbon, and it works in the fluid being rich in nonhydrocarbon very much, but is restricted in the applicability of hydrocarbon Continuous Flow.In addition, this technology is to some molecular size/weight non-selectivity.
Low temperature method is also for extracting NGL from natural gas.Although absorption process can extract nearly all heavier NGL, comparatively lighter hydrocarbons (as ethane) are usually difficult to reclaim from natural gas flow more.In some cases, it is economical for being retained in simply in natural gas flow by lighter NGL.But if extracting ethane with other is economical compared with lighter hydrocarbons, so low temperature method needs high-recovery.Substantially, low temperature method forms by gas flow temperature being dropped to approximately-120 degrees Fahrenheits.There is many different modes and gas is cooled to these temperature, but the most effective one is called as turbo-expander method.In this method, external refrigerant is used for cooled natural gas stream.Then, use expansion turbine rapid expanding refrigerating gas, temperature is significantly declined.This expands and also can cross over valve generation.This fast temperature of being caused by joule-Thompson effect (Joule-Thompsoneffect) declines and makes ethane in air-flow and other hydrocarbon condensation, makes methane maintain gas form simultaneously.The method to allow to reclaim in natural gas flow the ethane of most original treaty 90 to 95%.In addition, some Conversion of Energies discharged when natural gas flow can expand by expansion turbine are used for recompressing gaseous methane effluent, therefore save the cost of energy be associated with extraction ethane.These equipment can be called as JT equipment, refrigeration plant or Cryo Equipment, and it is all the version of identical temperature descending method.
Although reliable, cryogenic system suffers the many shortcomings comprising high pass filter requirement.In addition, this type systematic needs the relatively strict and maintenance of costliness normally to run.Mechanical refrigeration system also has practical limit in the cold that can transmit, and therefore, efficiency and the ability of this type systematic are restricted.Action pane (the operating condition scope of equipment well can work in inside) is relatively narrow window, needs time effectively start and closedown and is quite capital-intensive.Therefore, these facilities usually use to guarantee that more financial cost carrys out treatment system under higher gas flow rate.And if described facility is fabricated and only can operate under close limit operating condition, so exists and remove CO 2(amine system), water (glycol dehydration) and the sizable upstream process system sometimes needed for even pre-cooled (propane refrigeration machine).
Once NGL shifts out from natural gas flow, the mixed liquor stream of different N GL so must be isolated.Method for realizing this task is called as classification and is separated.Classification is separated works based on the different boiling of different hydrocarbon in NGL stream.Substantially, classification is divided into and occurs by distilling out the stage that hydrocarbon forms one by one.By proceeding to most heavy hydrocarbon from most lighter hydrocarbons, be likely easy to reasonably be separated different N GL.
In various substitute technology, adsorption method is seemingly the most promising.The adsorbent reply alkene or the alkane that are applicable to be separated NGL have high absorption capacity and selective.Absorbed component should be able to carry out desorption easily through simple chemical Engineering operation (as by raised temperature or by reducing pressure).Common adsorbents, as in prior art known represent optionally zeolite to ethene or propylene, activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel, load aggregation thing silver chlorate, containing resin of copper etc., suffer as slow adsorption dynamics adsorption kinetics, bad adsorption capacity and/or optionally one or more shortcoming.In addition, due to changing commercial requirements and demand, even more high absorption capacity, selective and/or reversible adsorbent is represented for the efficient separation of appropriate hydrocarbon gas so need to have.
Having what utilize medium should be applicable through improving NGL recovery method, it can be separated NGL from natural gas, the NGL regeneration that is separated by desorption, in a kind of fluid form or Selective Separation ethane (C 2) and more in heavy hydrocarbon one or more, the useless medium thrown aside is minimized and/or there is the machining cell of the little and wide operation window of physics footprint area.
Summary of the invention
The present invention is a kind of method from comprising methane and ethane, propane, butane, pentane or one or more the natural gas feed stream separating natural gas-liquid more heavy hydrocarbon, and it comprises following steps:
A () providing package contains the adsorbent bed of partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium, wherein said adsorbent media adsorbs ethane, propane, butane, pentane, more heavy hydrocarbon and/or its mixture;
B () makes described natural gas feed flow through described pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent bed to provide the pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium of natural gas flow and the load of being rich in methane;
C () reclaims, carry, liquefy or be rich in described in burning the natural gas flow of methane,
(d) adsorbed by desorption ethane, propane, butane, pentane, more heavy hydrocarbon and/or its mixture and make the pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent cleaning of medium of described load for re-using,
And
E () reclaims separately and/or as a mixture, described ethane of carrying, liquefy, reinject, get rid of, shunt or burn, propane, butane, pentane and more heavy hydrocarbon.
One embodiment of the present of invention are methods disclosed above, wherein said partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer comprises containing average cd scope between 50 to 100, macropore between 000 dust, carbon fixation part and derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer or condensation can produce the controlled thermal degradation products of the monomer of macroporous polymer or the macroporous synthetic polymer of its mixture, described partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer comprises and has following particle: the carbon of (a) at least 85 % by weight, b () macropore average cd scope is between 50 dusts to 100, hydrocarbon atom ratio between the multi-modal distribution of pores of 000 dust and (c) 1.5: 1 and 20: 1.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is method disclosed above, and wherein said partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer comprises particle, and the surface area of wherein said particle passes through N 2absorption measure and scope between 50 and 1500m 2between/g, wherein said macropore as pressure mercury technology measure contribution about 6 to about 700m 2/ g.
Accompanying drawing explanation
Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram according to Adsorption Natural Gas of the present invention and renovation process.
Fig. 2 comprises the Adsorption Natural Gas of micro wave regeneration unit and the schematic diagram of regenerating unit according to of the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows the initial of the butane of example 1 (not example of the present invention) and repeats adsorption isotherm.
Fig. 4 shows the initial of the butane of example 2 (not example of the present invention) and repeats adsorption isotherm.
Fig. 5 shows the initial of the propane of example 3 (example of the present invention) and repeats adsorption isotherm.
Fig. 6 shows the adsorption isotherm of methane, ethane, propane, butane and the pentane of example 1 (example of the present invention).
Fig. 7 shows the adsorption isotherm of methane, ethane, propane, butane and the pentane of example 2 (example of the present invention).
Fig. 8 shows the adsorption isotherm of methane, ethane, propane, butane and the pentane of example 3 (example of the present invention).
Detailed description of the invention
Original natural is from the well of three types: oil well, gas well and condensate well.Natural gas from oil well is commonly called " associated gas ".This gas can be separated with oil and exists or be dissolved in (dissolved gas) in crude oil by certain forms (free gas).From existing few or being called as " non-associated gas " without the gas well of crude oil and the natural gas of condensate well.Gas well itself produces original natural usually, and condensate well produces free natural gas and semiliquid hydrocarbon lime set.No matter what the source of natural gas is, once be separated with crude oil (if existence), it exists with the form of mixtures of methane and other hydrocarbon usually; Mainly ethane, propane, butane and pentane and in less degree more heavy hydrocarbon.
Original natural usually contains a large amount of impurity, as water or sour gas, and such as carbon dioxide (CO 2), hydrogen sulfide (H 2s), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), carbon disulfide (CS 2), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbonyl sulfide (COS) or mercaptan is as impurity.Term " natural gas feed stream " as used in the inventive method comprises any gas source, original or treated one or repeatedly to remove the original natural of water and/or other impurity.
Term " natural gas liquid " (NGL) and " ethane+" (C 2+) referring broadly to generation, there is the hydrocarbon of two or more carbon, as ethane, propane, butane and may a small amount of pentane or more heavy hydrocarbon.Preferably, the methane concentration of NGL is 5 % by mole or less.
Term " is rich in methane " referring broadly to generation and such as after classification is separated, has reclaimed any steam or the liquid stream of ethane+amount.Therefore, the C of the fluid of methane is rich in 1concentration is higher than the C in association and nonassociated gas 1concentration.Preferably, C 1concentration increase be due to natural middle removal at least 90 % by mole ethane and remove at least 95 % by mole propane+.
The adsorbent be applicable to is the solid with microstructure.The inner surface of this type of adsorbent is preferably at 100 to 2000m 2between/g, more preferably at 500 to 1500m 2between/g and even more preferably 1000 to 1300m 2/ g.In adsorbent bed, the inner surface character of adsorbent makes C 2more heavy hydrocarbon is adsorbed.The adsorbing medium be applicable to comprises based on the silver chlorate of silica, silica gel, aluminium oxide or silica-alumina, zeolite, activated carbon, load aggregation thing, the material containing resin of copper.Most preferred adsorbing medium is the macroporous polymer of porous crosslinked polymeric adsorbent or partial thermal decomposition.Preferably, the inner surface of adsorbent is nonpolar.
In one embodiment, the present invention uses adsorbing medium to extract NGL from natural gas flow.The combination that the mechanism that polymeric adsorbent extracts NGL from natural gas flow is absorption and absorbs; Main mechanism is at least considered to absorption.Therefore, term " absorption " and " adsorbent " use in the whole text at this description, but this mainly for simplicity.The present invention does not think and is confined to any specific mechanism.
When adsorbing medium has adsorbed the C of any amount 2during+hydrocarbon, it is called as " load ".Load comprises from low content hydrocarbon until comprise a series of adsorbances of saturated adsorption hydrocarbon.
Term " macropore " exchanges with " macroporous netlike " in the art and uses and generally refer to diameter about or larger hole." mesopore " is characterized as being larger but be less than between hole." micropore " is characterized as being and is less than hole.The transformation distribution generation in the hole of these types is to the high absorption capacity of NGL and the desirable characteristics being easy to NGL desorption under convenient/actual Chemical engineering method change (temperature raises or decompression [vacuum]).Produce micropore, the method for mesopore and large pore size distribution can realize by different way, be included in inert diluent or other pore-foaming agent and there is the lower polymer that formed to cause being separated and to be cross-linked to form micropore after passing through.
In one embodiment, adsorbing medium of the present invention is polymeric adsorbent of the present invention, and it is with cross-linked polymer synthetic adsorbent after the transformation distribution with high surface area, macrovoid volume and high absorption capacity and macropore, mesopore and micropore through transformation.
Preferably, polymeric adsorbent of the present invention is superhigh cross-linking and/or methylene-bridged, has following characteristics: BET surface area is equal to or greater than 500m 2/ g and be preferably equal to or greater than 1,000m 2/ g, granularity be 300 microns to 1500 microns, preferably 500 to 1200 microns.
The example that can be polymerized the monomer forming the polymeric adsorbent be suitable for is styrene, ring-alkylated styrenes, halo-styrenes, haloalkylstyrene, vinylphenol, vinyl benzene methyl alcohol, vinyl benzene methyl halide and vinyl naphthalene.Be included in the middle of the styrene that is substituted be through ortho position, the compound that replaces of a position and contraposition.Instantiation is styrene, vinyltoluene, ethyl styrene, t-butyl styrene and vinylbenzyl chloride, and comprise the ortho position of this type of monomer any, a position and para-isomer, its molecular structure allows the isomerization of this type.Other Exemplary monomers is polyfunctional compound.A preferred classes is polyvinylidene compound, and the example is divinylbenzene, trivinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, vinyl thioether and divinyl pyridine.Preferred polyvinylidene compound is divinyl and trivinyl aromatic compound.Polyfunctional compound also can be used as the crosslinking agent of first group of monomer.
The method for optimizing preparing polymer absorbant is by using swelling agent to make swelling polymer, then crosslinked swelling state polymer as unique cross-linking reaction or as except carry out before inflation be cross-linked except cross-linking reaction.When using swelling agent, before the enough crosslinking agents of use are carried out any expansion, cross-linking reaction expands when contacting with swelling agent to make polymer but not is dissolved in reagent.Have nothing to do with the carried out stage, crosslinking degree also will affect the porosity of polymer and can change to reach particular bore porosity.In view of these changes, the ratio of crosslinking agent can significantly change, and the present invention is not limited to particular range.Therefore, crosslinking agent can in the scope of about 0.25% to about 45% of polymer.Optimum is generally use about 0.75% to about 8% crosslinking agent to obtain relative to polymer, and all the other (uncrosslinked) monomers account for about 92% to about 99.25% (all percentage is all by weight).
Other polymeric adsorbent being applicable to the present invention's practice is the copolymer of one or more single aromatic monomer and one or more non-aromatic monovinylidene monomer.The example of the latter is methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid Methylethyl.When it is present, what these non-aromatic monomers preferably accounted for copolymer is less than about 30 % by weight.
Polymeric adsorbent is prepared by routine techniques, and the example is disclosed in different United States Patent (USP).Example is USP4,297,220; 4,382,124; 4,564,644; 5,079,274; 5,288,307; 4,950,332; With 4,965,083.The mode that the disclosure of each in these patents is quoted in full is incorporated herein.
For expansion and then at the polymer that swelling state is crosslinked, being cross-linked upon inflation can be accomplished in several ways, and it is disclosed in the above patent enumerated further.One method first makes polymer haloalkylation, then makes it expand and form alkyl bridge by making the aromatic group in alkylhalide group part and adjacent chain react and be cross-linked.Haloalkylation is realized by conventional means, the example first under non-reacted condition, makes swelling polymer by alkylhalide group agent, comprises Friedel-Crafts catalyst (Friedel-Craftscatalyst) simultaneously and be dissolved in alkylhalide group agent.Once swelling polymer, elevate the temperature to reaction level and maintain until there is the haloalkylation of required degree.The example of alkylhalide group agent is the mixture of chloromethyl methyl ether, bromomethyl methyl ether and formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid.After haloalkylation, polymer expands further by contacting with inertia swelling agent.Example is dichloroethanes, chlorobenzene, dichloro-benzenes, ethylene dichloride, carrene, dichloropropane and nitrobenzene.Friedel-Crafts catalyst also can be dissolved in swelling agent, because described catalyst will be used for follow-up cross-linking reaction.Then in the presence of a catalyst, temperature is increased to the level within the scope of about 60 DEG C to about 85 DEG C, and carries out bridging reaction.Once bridging has been reacted, remove swelling agent by the combination of solvent extraction, washing, drying or these programs.
The pore-size distribution of the adsorbent completed and correlation properties significantly can change and be that the present invention is crucial without particular range.In major applications, optimum obtains under polymer about 0.5 to the porosity (total void volume) within the scope of about 1.5cc/g.Preferable range is about 0.7 to about 1.3cc/g.Within the scope of these, by macropore (i.e. diameter or larger hole) amount contributed will preferably between about 0.025 within the scope of about 0.6cc/g, and most preferably about 0.04 to about 0.5cc/g.The surface area of polymer, as by measured by nitrogen adsorption method (BET method as the well-known), will in major applications about 150 to about 2100m 2/ g and preferably about 400 to about 1400m 2in the scope of/g.Average pore size will be the most usual between about extremely about scope in.
The form of polymeric adsorbent is same and non-key and can be to hold any form with contact flow compressed air stream.Granular particles and bead are preferred, and size range is between about 50 to about 5,000 microns, and wherein the scope of about 500 to about 3,000 microns is especially preferred.Can be realized by the conventional flow arrangement of gas with adsorbent contact, as being generally used for those configurations of fluid bed or packed bed.Adsorbent also can be enclosed in filter cylinder to be easy to remove and replace and more control air flow path (as radial flow).
Polymeric adsorbent effectively can work under the operating condition of broad range.Temperature is by preferably in any scope of any change of the physics or chemical species that do not cause the other condensation of steam or adsorbent.Preferred operations temperature is in 5 DEG C to 75 DEG C and the most preferably scope of 10 DEG C to 50 DEG C.In general, at ambient temperature or environment temperature and higher than environment 10 DEG C to 15 DEG C between operate gratifying result will be provided.The pressure entering the natural gas flow of adsorbent bed also can significantly change, and preferably extends to 1000psig (7000kPa) from 2psig (115kPa).Pressure is by the general unit instruction by using product gas.Typical pressures range is 100psig (795kPa) to 300psig (2170kPa).In adsorbent bed the time of staying of natural gas flow by the most normal in 0.02 second to 5 seconds and the preferably scope of 0.3 second to 3.0 seconds.The space velocity that natural gas flow runs through bed will the most often fall in the scope of 0.1 feet per second to 5 feet per second, and wherein the scope of 0.3 feet per second to 3 feet per second is preferred.Finally, relative humidity can be any value of maximum 100%, but for simplicity, the preferable range of relative humidity is about 25% to about 98%.
Polymeric adsorbent of the present invention as described above may be used for being separated ethane, propane, butane, pentane and more heavy hydrocarbon from the mist containing methane.Preferably, polymeric adsorbent of the present invention every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 500mmHg propane is equal to or greater than 60cm 3the propane of STP.Preferably, adsorbent of the present invention every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 100mmHg normal butane is equal to or greater than 60cm 3the normal butane of STP.In addition, these materials can remove propane or normal butane gas, and then can adsorb at every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 500mmHg propane again and be equal to or greater than 60cm 3the propane of STP or under 35 DEG C and 100mmHg normal butane every gram of adsorbent adsorb again and be greater than 60cm 3the normal butane of STP at least one times.Preferably, adsorbent of the present invention every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 600mmHg ethane is equal to or greater than 30cm 3the ethane of STP.Preferably, adsorbent of the present invention every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 50mmHg pentane is equal to or greater than 100cm 3the pentane of STP.
In another embodiment, adsorbing medium of the present invention is the pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium extracting NGL from natural gas flow.
Pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium is well-known, for example, see USP4, and 040,990, its mode quoted in full is incorporated herein.The particle of partial thermal decomposition, preferably in bead or spherical form, produces by having the controlled decomposition of the synthetic polymer of specific initial porosity.In a preferred embodiment, pyrolysis particle source is in the thermal decomposition of the macroporous netlike ion exchange resin containing macroporous structure.
In general, pyrolysis comprises and makes starting polymer experience controlled temperature under certain environmental conditions to continue controlled time interval.The main purpose of pyrolysis is thermal degradation, efficiently removes the volatile products produced simultaneously.
Maximum temperature in the scope of about 300 DEG C to maximum about 900 DEG C, can depend on the required composition of pending polymer and final pyrolysis particle.Higher temperature (such as about 700 DEG C and higher) causes the extensive degraded of polymer, forms the hole of molecular sieve size in the product simultaneously.
Most desirably, thermal decomposition (or instruction " pyrolysis " or " heat treatment ") uses in by the inert atmosphere that such as argon gas, neon, helium, nitrogen etc. are formed to carry out through carbon fixation partially substituted macroporous netlike synthetic polymer bead, described carbon fixation part allows polymer charing and does not merge, to retain macroreticular structure and to obtain the carbon of high yield.The central carbon fixation part be applicable to is sulphonic acid ester, carboxyl, amine, halogen, oxygen, sulfonate, carboxylate and quaternary amine.These groups are introduced in starting polymer by the routine techniques known, as making functionalization of polymers react with those producing ion exchange resin.Carbon fixation part can also be passed through by its reactive precursor imbibition in the hole of macroporous netlike polymer, even be incorporated on polymer by carbon fixation partial chemical with in heating process.The example of these reactive precursor below comprises sulfuric acid, oxidant, nitric acid, lewis acid (Lewisacid), acrylic acid etc.
Be applicable to put into practice the temperature of the inventive method generally in the scope of 300 DEG C to about 900 DEG C, but higher temperature also can be suitable, depends on the required composition of pending polymer and final thermal decomposition product.Higher than at the temperature of about 700 DEG C, starting polymer is extensively degraded, and forms the hole of molecular sieve size in the product, namely simultaneously extremely average cd, produces the adsorbent according to preferred classes of the present invention.At a lower temperature, the average cd in thermosetting hole usually between to as high as scope in.Preferred pyrolysis temperature range is between about 400 DEG C and 800 DEG C.As hereinafter explained more fully, temperature will control to be that to produce the partial thermal decomposition material with the composition of required product, surface area, pore structure and other physical features necessary.The heat treated duration is relatively inessential, allows heat up and make open-assembly time minimum.
The thermal decomposed resins of broad range can by changing the porosity of starting polymer and/or chemical composition and being produced by the condition changing thermal decomposition.In general, the C/Hratio of thermal decomposed resins of the present invention is 1.5: 1 to 20: 1, preferably 2.0: 1 to 10: 1, and the C/H of activated carbon is more much higher than usually, at least be greater than 30: 1 (carbon and graphite handbooks (CarbonandGraphiteHandbook), charles L. Man Teer (CharlesL.Mantell), the 1968,198th page, New York international scientific publishing house (IntersciencePublishers, N.Y.)).Product particles contains the carbon of at least 85 % by weight, and remainder mainly hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, chlorine etc., derive from polymer or the functional group's (carbon fixation part) contained above and introduce hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, alkali metal, transition metal, alkaline-earth metal and other element (catalyst and/or carbon fixation part can be served as or there are some other functional purposes) in polymer orifices with filler component form.
The pore structure of end product must have the different hole of different average-size, i.e. multi-modal distribution of pores containing at least two groups.Comparatively macropore derive from preferably containing average cd between extremely the macroreticular resin initial substance of the macropore in scope.Comparatively aperture is as previously mentioned, stock size scope between extremely it depends on the maximum temperature in pyrolytic process to a great extent.This type of multi-modal distribution of pores is regarded as the novelty of the present composition and required feature.
Pyrolyzed-polymer of the present invention has the relatively large surface area produced by the macroporsity of initial substance and the comparatively aperture occurred in pyrolytic process.In general, as by the whole surface area measured by N2 adsorption between about 50 and 1500m 2scope between/g.Wherein, as passed through pressure mercury technique computes gained, macropore will contribute 6 to 700m usually 2/ g, preferably 6 to 200m 2/ g, and remainder is contributed by heat treatment.The non-porous polymer (as " gel " type resin) of heat-treating in the prior art does not contribute the necessary macropore of adsorbent of the present invention, does not work under the efficiency of pyrolyzed-polymer as herein described yet.
The pyrolysis duration depends on the heat transfer characteristics from the time needed for particular polymers removal volatile matter and institute's choosing method.In general, pyrolysis is extremely quick when heat trnasfer is quick, such as, in the baking oven of pyrolysis surface bed material or in fluid bed.For preventing pyrolyzed-polymer from burning, before pyrolytic material is exposed to air, the temperature of polymer is usually reduced to and is no more than 400 DEG C, preferably no more than 300 DEG C.Optimal method of operating relates to and quickly heats up to maximum temperature, makes temperature keep maximum lasting short time period (about 0 to 20 minute) and before sample is exposed to air, temperature is reduced to room temperature rapidly thereafter.Pass through to be heated to 800 DEG C within 20 to 30 minutes periods by this method for optimizing according to product of the present invention and cooled and produce.At high temperature keep longer period of time to be also gratifying, unless because temperature increases, otherwise seem not carry out additional dissociation.
A small amount of activated gas is (as CO 2, NH 3, O 2, H 2o or its combination) often in pyrolytic process, increase the surface area of final material thus with polymer reaction.This type of gas is optional and may be used for the specific characteristic obtaining adsorbent.
The starting polymer that may be used for producing thermal decomposed resins of the present invention comprises one or more monoene and belongs to or gather ethylenically unsaturated monomer maybe can produce the monomer of macroporous netlike polymer and copolymer macroporous netlike homopolymers or copolymer by condensation reaction.The large hole mesh resin of predecessor itself is used as and failed call is new material forms when being formed through heat treated macroporous netlike polymer.Any such known materials with suitable carbon fixation part is applicable.Preferred monomers is olefinic those aliphatic undersaturated and aromatic material.
The example that may be used for the single ethylenically unsaturated monomer be applicable to manufacturing graininess large hole mesh resin comprises: the ester of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, as methyl, ethyl, 2-chloroethyl, propyl group, isobutyl group, isopropyl, butyl, the tert-butyl group, sec-butyl, ethylhexyl, amyl group, hexyl, octyl group, decyl, dodecyl, cyclohexyl, isobornyl, benzyl, phenyl, alkyl phenyl, ethoxyl methyl, ethoxyethyl group, ethoxycarbonyl propyl, propoxy methyl, Among, propoxypropyl, ethoxyl phenenyl, ethoxybenzene methyl, ethoxycyclohexyl, ethoxy, hydroxypropyl, ethene, third is rare, isobutene, diisobutylene, styrene, vinyl xylene, ethyl vinyl benzene, vinyltoluene, vinylbenzyl chloride, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, bicyclopentadiene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, Methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, functional monomer, as vinyl benzene, sulfonic acid, vinyl esters, comprises vinyl acetate, propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl laurate, vinyl ketone, comprises ethenyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl nezukone, vinyl normal-butyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, vinyl octyl group ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone, vinyl aldehyde, comprises methacrylaldehyde, MAL, crotonaldehyde, vinyl ethers, comprises vinyl methyl ether, EVE, vinyl propyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, vinylidene compound, comprises bromination chlorination ethenylidene or bromine protochloride vinyl, the corresponding neutrality of unsaturated dicarboxylic or half sour half ester or free diacid, comprise itaconic acid, citraconic acid, aconitic acid, fumaric acid and maleic acid in addition, the acrylamide be substituted, as N-monoalkyl ,-N, N-dialkyl group-and N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide or Methacrylamide, wherein said alkyl can have one to 18 carbon atom, as the methyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, butyl ester, own ester, cyclohexyl, monooctyl ester, dodecyl ester, cetyl ester and octadecylamino Arrcostab, as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid beta-dimethyl-amino ethyl ester, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid β-diethylamino ethyl ester or acrylic acid and the own ester of methacrylic acid 6-dimethylamino, methacrylic acid and acrylic acid alkyl sulphur ethyl ester, as methacrylic acid ethyl sulphur ethyl ester, vinylpyridine, as 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpridine, 2-methyl-5-vinylpyrine etc.
With regard to the copolymer containing methacrylic acid ethyl sulphur ethyl ester, product can be oxidized to corresponding sulfoxide or sulfone if desired.
Usually work but only have this type of unsaturated group poly-ethylenically unsaturated monomer (as isoprene, butadiene and chlorobutadiene) can as monoene belong to unsaturated classification a part use.
The example of polyene ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprises: divinylbenzene, divinyl pyridine, divinyl naphthalene, diallyl phthalate, glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol-propane trimethacrylate, divinylsulfone, ethylene glycol, glycerine, pentaerythrite, diethylene glycol, single sulfenyl of glycol or the polyvinyl of disulfide group derivative and resorcinol or polyallyl ethers, divinyl ketone, vinyl thioether, allyl acrylate, diallyl maleate, fumaric acid diallyl, succinic acid diallyl, diallyl carbonate, diallyl malonate, diallyl oxalate, diallyl adipate, decanedioic acid diallyl, decanedioic acid divinyl ester, diallyl tartrate, silicic acid diallyl, the third three sour triallyls, triallyl aconitate, citric acid triallyl, TAP, N, N '-methylene diacrylamine, N, N '-dimethacrylamide, N, N '-ethylenebisacrylamide, trivinylbenzene, trivinyl naphthalene and polyvinyl anthracene.
The preferred classes of this type monomers is the unsaturated molecule of aromatic series olefinic, as styrene, vinylpyridine, vinyl naphthalene, vinyltoluene, phenyl acrylate, vinyl-dimethyl benzene and vinyl xylene, ethyl vinyl benzene.
The alkyl divinylbenzene that the example of preferred polyene ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprises the alkyl replacement in divinyl pyridine, divinyl naphthalene, divinylbenzene, trivinylbenzene, benzene nucleus with 1 to 41 to 2 carbon atom and the alkyl trivinylbenzene that the alkyl in benzene nucleus with 1 to 31 to 2 carbon atom replaces.Except the homopolymers of these poly-(vinyl) benzene monomers and copolymer, combined polymerization together with one or more mixture that can gather ethylenically unsaturated monomer or (3) (1) and (2) with maximum 98% (weighing scale with total monomer mixture) (1) single ethylenically unsaturated monomer or (2) except poly-(vinyl) benzene just defined wherein.The divinyl replaced through alkyl and the example of trivinylbenzene are various vinyltoluene, divinyl ethylo benzene, Isosorbide-5-Nitrae-divinyl-2,3,5,6-durol, 1,3,5-trivinyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene, 1,4-divinyl 2,3,6-triethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trivinyl-3,5-diethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trivinyl-2-methylbenzene.
The most preferably copolymer of styrene, divinylbenzene and vinyl xylene, ethyl vinyl benzene.
The example of the condensation monomer be applicable to comprises: (a) aliphatic dibasic acid, as maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, 1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylic acid etc.; (b) aliphatic diamine, as piperazine, 2-methyl piperazine, suitable, cis-two (4-aminocyclohexyl) methane, m-xylene diamine etc.; C () glycol, as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, neopentyl glycol etc.; D () bischloroformates, as the bischloroformates etc. of genial trans-pair of chloro-carbonic acid Isosorbide-5-Nitrae-cyclohexyl ester, two chloro-carbonic acid 2,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutyl ester and other glycol referred to above; (e) carboxylic acid, as salicylic acid, and P-hydroxybenzoic acid and by its derivative lactone, as propiolactone, valerolactone, caprolactone etc.; F () vulcabond, as genial trans-cyclopropane-1,2-vulcabond, genial trans-cyclobutane-1-2-vulcabond etc.; G () aromatic diacid and its derivative (ester, acid anhydrides and acid chloride), as phthalic acid, phthalic anhydride, terephthalic acid (TPA), M-phthalic acid, repefral etc.; (h) aromatic diamine, as benzidine, 4,4 '-methylene diamine, two (4-aminophenyl) ether etc.; I () bis-phenol, as bisphenol-A, bisphenol-c, Bisphenol F, phenolphthalein, resorcinol etc.; (j) bis-phenol two (chloro-formate), as bisphenol-A two (chloro-formate), 4,4 '-dihydroxy benaophenonel two (chloro-formate) etc.; K () carbonyl and thiocarbonyls, as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, sulphur acetone The acetone etc.; (1) phenol and derivative, as phenol, alkylphenol etc.; M () polyfunctional crosslinking agent, as ternary or polyacid (as trimellitic acid), ternary or polyalcohol (as glycerine), ternary or polyamine, as diethylenetriamines; With other condensation monomer and above-mentioned mixture.
The ion exchange resin produced by aromatic series and/or aliphatic monomer is provided for the preferred classes of the starting polymer producing porous adsorbent.Ion exchange resin also can containing being selected from cation, anion, highly basic, weak base, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, functional group containing oxygen, halogen and its mixture.In addition, this type of ion exchange resin optionally can contain the macropore of at least part of filled polymer before heat treatment such as oxidant, reactive materials, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acrylic acid.
Synthetic polymer can flood, as carbon black, charcoal, bone black, sawdust or other carbonaceous material with filler before pyrolysis.This type of filler provides economic carbon source, its can polymer at most about 90 % by weight amount add.
Starting polymer, when ion exchange resin, optionally can contain the various metals of atom level discrete form at ion position.These metals can comprise iron, copper, silver, nickel, manganese, palladium, cobalt, titanium, zirconium, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, cadmium, ruthenium, uranium and rare earth (as lanthanum).By utilizing ion-exchange mechanism, technician likely control to be integrated into the amount of metal and distribution.
Mainly assist it to serve as the ability of catalyst although metal is incorporated on resin, the adsorbent be suitable for also can contain metal.
Synthetic polymer (no matter the ion exchange resin in acid, alkali or metallic salt form) is commercially available.According to the present invention, also provide a kind of adsorption method from gaseous state or liquid medium separation component, it comprises makes medium contact with the particle of pyrolysis synthetic polymer.
For example, found by the highly acid exchanger resin of the styrene-based divinylbenzene of any one pyrolysis in hydrogen, iron (III), copper (II), silver (I) or calcium (II) form can 1 bed volume/little up to 600 bed volumes/minute, preferably 10 to 200 bed volumes/minute flow rate under the vinyl chloride concentration in air (preferably dry air) is reduced to the level being less than 1ppm from the initial concentration of 2ppm to 300,000ppm.
Partial thermal decomposition polymeric adsorbent of the present invention disclosed above can be greater than 25cm by every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 200mmHg ethane 3the ethane of STP and under 35 DEG C and 100mmHg propane every gram of adsorbent be greater than 30cm 3the propane of STP.In addition, these materials can rejecting ethane or propane gas, and then can adsorb and be greater than 25cm by every gram of adsorbent under 35 DEG C and 200mmHg ethane 3the ethane of STP, or under 35 DEG C and 100mmHg propane, every gram of adsorbent adsorbs and is greater than 30cm 3the propane one of STP or repeatedly.
Separation method comprises the adsorbent bed making natural gas flow pass through to be equipped with adsorbent of the present invention.Preferably, the ethane of selective absorption and/or propane and/or butane and/or pentane and/or more heavy hydrocarbon easily through reducing pressure or the temperature desorption by increasing adsorbent bed, reproducing adsorbent can be produced.The adsorbent of regeneration like this can be used as adsorbent again and be used for being separated ethane and/or propane and/or butane and/or pentane and/or more heavy hydrocarbon from natural gas flow.
From natural gas feed stream be separated NGL in batches, semicontinuous and continuation method and device be well-known.Fig. 1 describes an embodiment of separation method of the present invention.Separation method comprises following steps: (a) makes natural gas feed stream 3 by comprising the absorbing unit 10 of adsorbent bed 2, and described adsorbent bed comprises adsorb heavier hydrocarbon (C 2, C 3, C 4, C 5deng) adsorbing medium, obtain the product of natural gas being rich in methane, it is discharged 5 and (reclaims, via pipeline or the conveying of other instrument, liquefaction, burning etc.), b load has and carries 11 to the regeneration unit 20 comprising instrument 32 compared with the adsorbent of heavy hydrocarbon from absorbing unit 10 by (), thus by make comparatively heavy hydrocarbon 33 from load adsorbing medium release and form regenerative adsorption medium 23 and load adsorbing medium regenerated, c adsorbing medium 23 that () wherein regenerates carries 8 to get back to absorbing unit 10 for re-using, (d) the comparatively heavy hydrocarbon 33 discharged is as a mixture or respectively with gas (such as C 2, C 3, C 4, C 5deng) form discharge 29 (such as reclaim, reinject, get rid of, shunt or burn) or liquefied by instrument 60 and reclaim with independent liquid form as a mixture or respectively.
Although a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is open for illustration purposes and in FIG, will be appreciated that the change of disclosed method or amendment are within the scope of the present invention.For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, can there is multiple adsorbent bed and/or can as by USP3,458, the adsorbent bed of in-place regeneration illustrated in 973, its mode quoted in full is incorporated herein.
The adsorption step of the inventive method and/or regeneration step can operate by batch processes, semicontinuous method, continuation method or its combining form.For example, in one embodiment of the invention, adsorption step and regeneration step can by batch mode.In another embodiment of the present invention, adsorption step and regeneration step can operate by semi-continuous mode.In another embodiment of the present invention, adsorption step and regeneration step can by continuous-mode operations.
Or, in one embodiment of the invention, adsorption step can by batches, semicontinuous or continuous-mode operation, and regeneration step operates with the pattern different from adsorption step.For example, in one embodiment of the invention, adsorption step can by batch mode, and regeneration step operates in a continuous mode.In another embodiment of the present invention, adsorption step can by continuous-mode operation, and regeneration step operates in a continuous mode.Adsorption step and regeneration step in batches, semicontinuous and likely combining of continuous mode be all regarded as within the scope of the invention.
Absorption is a reversible process in many cases.The practice of removing volatile matter from adsorbing medium can be realized by the pressure minimizing medium, heating or decompression and the combination of heating.In arbitrary situation, results needed is that retained steam is volatilized again, and it is removed from adsorbent to make it can be used further to catch extra volatile matter subsequently.Preferably, adsorbing medium of the present invention makes adsorbed gas being equal to or greater than 75%, being more preferably equal to or greater than 85%, being more preferably equal to or greater than 90%, being more preferably equal to or greater than 95%, being more preferably equal to or greater than 99% and the amount desorption of most preferably adsorbed nearly all NGL with adsorbance upon regeneration.
For removing the object of volatile matter of adsorbing, the traditional means of conventional heated systems (as heated air (air or inert gas) or radiant heat contact interchanger) heating adsorption medium is utilized to be suitable for a part as adsorbing medium regeneration step for NGL separation method of the present invention.
Preferably, NGL separation method of the present invention adopts microwave heating system as a part for adsorbing medium regeneration step.This type of microwave heating system is provided in heating system and the method for removing volatile matter under the cost of reduction with higher thermal efficiency from adsorbing medium.
With reference to Fig. 2, NGL absorbing unit 10 of the present invention has absorption storage tank 1, and it contains the adsorbent bed 2 comprising adsorbing medium of the present invention.Natural gas feed stream enters absorbing unit 10 and by 4 adsorbent beds 2 via the pipeline 3 in absorption storage tank 1 bottom.Adsorbent bed 2 comprises and can adsorb C from natural gas feed stream 2, C 3, C 4, C 5the more adsorbing medium of heavy hydrocarbon.The inlet temperature of absorbing unit 10 can between 5 to 100 DEG C, preferably 15 to 80 DEG C and more preferably in the scope of 20 to 70 DEG C.14 to 1400psia, preferably 600 to 1200psia can be used and the pressure of more preferably 800 to 1000psia.The product of natural gas stream being rich in methane greatly reducing heavy hydrocarbons content compared with natural gas feed stream leaves adsorbent bed 2 and leaves via pipeline 5 from the top of absorption storage tank 1.The natural gas flow being rich in methane can reclaim or burn.
Along with adsorbing medium load has NGL, it is via the bottom of conveying mechanism 9 by absorption storage tank 1, carries out having in the micro wave regeneration unit 20 of regeneration storage tank 21 and microwave heating system 32 via pipeline 11.The operating temperature of microwave heating system 32 can between 105 to 350 DEG C, preferably 140 to 250 DEG C and more preferably in the scope of 145 to 200 DEG C.20 to 600psia, preferably 100 to 400psia can be used and the pressure of more preferably 150 to 200psia.Microwave power supply 30 is heating adsorption medium 2 in microwave heating system 32, makes NGL evaporate 33.
Microwave heating system 32 can irradiate the adsorbing medium of load to make volatile material desorption.Use microwave radiation adsorbing medium that heating adsorption material can be provided to remove the economy of adsorbing volatilizing thing from adsorbent and heat replacement scheme efficiently.Microwave can be applied to adsorbent without the need to heated air, and via the path more than 12 inches, heat energy can be passed to concrete adsorbent effectively.For realizing the method for this heating adsorption medium, for the device of heater element applying or generation microwave must build, in a certain way to obtain the homogeneous heating of adsorbent and to make any radiation reflected back on microwave power supply 30 minimize or eliminate.Microwave heating system 32 can comprise heater and heating or radiating system (not shown in Fig. 2) and optionally purge gas system 24.Heater can be couple to radiating system and be communicated with it to receive the heat energy (as microwave or electromagnetic energy) produced by radiating system, and is communicated with purge gas system 24 to receive Purge gas to contribute to removing volatile matter from adsorbent.
NGL is extracted from regeneration storage tank 21 by pump orifice 28 via pumped vacuum systems 40.Regeneration storage tank 21 can optionally be equipped with purge gas system 24, and wherein Purge gas (such as nitrogen) enters via pipeline 22 and disperses 25 in the bottom of regeneration storage tank 21.
Allow regenerative adsorption medium 23 to pass through pipeline 26 from the bottom of regeneration storage tank 21, then turn back to absorption storage tank 1.The natural gas that a part is rich in methane cycles through air blast 7 from the top of absorption storage tank 1 via pipeline 6, carries the adsorbing medium 23 of regeneration again to adsorb NGL from natural gas 3 via pipeline 8.
Enter condenser 60 from the NGL of regeneration storage tank 21 vacuum extraction by vacuum extraction system 40, by gas compression system 50, be separated in this NGL condensation, optionally and be discharged in one or more storage tank 73,74,75 and/or 76 with the particular form of the mixture of NGL or ethane, propane, butane, pentane and/or more heavy hydrocarbon.The NGL discharged can reclaim, carries, liquefies, reinjects, gets rid of, shunts or burn.Make any methane arriving condenser get back to absorption storage tank 1 via pipeline 61 recirculation, and other gas any, Purge gas, water and/or pollutant can be separated via pipeline 62.
In one embodiment of the invention, NGL separation method is the continuation method making adsorbing medium cyclic regeneration.For example, in fig. 2, absorption storage tank 1 and regeneration storage tank 21 between pipeline 11 in there is valve 12 and regenerate storage tank 21 and collection storage tank 17 between pipeline 26 in there is valve 27.Valve 12 and 27, through synchronously to allow the adsorbing medium of the load retained from absorption storage tank 1, makes adsorbing medium regenerate in regenerator unit 20 simultaneously.When adsorbing medium regenerates in regenerator storage tank 21, valve 27 allows the adsorbing medium 23 of regeneration to leave regenerator storage tank 21 and absorption storage tank 1 is got back in conveying.Then, valve 12 allows the adsorbing medium of load to enter regenerator storage tank 21 with to be regenerated.Repeat this process and allow adsorbing medium cyclic regeneration.
In another embodiment of the present invention, NGL separation method is the batch processes that adsorbing medium is regenerated in batches.For example, in fig. 2, between absorption storage tank 1 and regeneration storage tank 21, there is stock chest 13.When load adsorbing medium 2, it is all transported to stock chest 13 via conveying mechanism 9 and pipeline 11 from absorption storage tank 1.The inclusion of stock chest 13 is then delivered to regeneration storage tank 21 via pipeline 15, this load adsorbing medium regeneration and turn back to absorption storage tank 1, use until load and repeat described process at this.
Preferably, load has the adsorbent of the present invention of hydrocarbon to use micro wave regeneration system regeneration, such as shown in Figure 2.Preferably, micro wave regeneration system can in batches, operate in semicontinuous or continuation method.The advantage using microwave system to be combined with adsorbent of the present invention is that it allows microwave that the heating of medium is minimized, but makes the heating of NGL reach maximum to promote desorption.Therefore, it has simpler than conventional regeneration system in operation and reduces the benefit of heat to the effect of sorbent material self.In addition, when this desorption method is combined with continuous adsorption method (as moving packed bed or similar device), hydrocarbon is removed can through carefully adjusting the composition adapting to feed gas, make reclaim gas can have improvement purity and when it is present, reduce the load to follow-up cooling arrangement, described cooling arrangement allows to reclaim in liquid form and carries subsequently.
Example
Raw material used in example are described below.
Example 1 is equal to or greater than 1,000m by having of making of the macroporous copolymer of mono-vinyl aromatic monomer and cross-linking monomer 2the porous crosslinked polymeric adsorbent of the high surface area of/g, wherein said macroporous copolymer is crosslinked after swelling state under Friedel-Crafts catalyst exists;
Example 2 is equal to or greater than 1,000m by having of making of the macroporous copolymer of mono-vinyl aromatic monomer and cross-linking monomer 2the porous crosslinked polymeric adsorbent of the surface area of/g, wherein said macroporous copolymer is crosslinked after swelling state under Friedel-Crafts catalyst exists, use end-blocking residual chlorine methyl after hydrophobic aromatic compounds of group simultaneously, produce the medium that hydrophobicity increases; With
Example 3 is the mono-vinyl aromatic monomer of sulfonation and the partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer of cross-linking monomer.
Adsorption capacity and the through characteristic of example 1 and example 2 are determined as follows:
adsorption capacity
Methane, ethane, propane and butane:
Mike's Mo Ruitike (Micromeritics) ASAP2020 surface area and lacunarity analysis instrument is used to analyze methane (the Sigma-Aldrich company (Sigma-Aldrich) under 308K, 99.0%), ethane (Sigma-Aldrich company, 99.99), propane (Sigma-Aldrich company, 99.97%) and butane (Ma Xisen tri-gas (MathesonTri-Gas), 99.9%) absorption.Before analysis, the polymeric adsorbent (.3 to .5 gram) tested is degassed to the pressure durations 12 hours lower than 5 μm of Hg under vacuo under 423K in quartzy U-shaped pipe.Adopt the pressure spot between 5 to 600mmHg, there is 45 seconds equilibration interval.Sample is then found time 1 hour under vacuo, repeats pressure spot subsequently.
Pentane:
Use the Mike Mo Ruitike ASAP2020 surface area and the static pentane absorption of lacunarity analysis instrument analysis under 273K that are equipped with steam to introduce option and dual-zone temperature control.The glycol/water mixtures contained in use cooler dew controls as the temperature of sample.Pentane (Sigma-Aldrich company, anhydrous, >=99%) is placed in and is arranged in the quartz container that the temperature controlling to 308K regulates steam oven.Before pentane is analyzed, the polymeric adsorbent tested is degassed to the pressure durations at least 12 hours lower than 5 μm of Hg under vacuo under 373K in quartz ampoule.Adopt at 0.005 < P/P 0relative pressure point between < 0.50.Saturation pressure P 0183.526mmHg is calculated as based on pentane characterization of adsorption and analysis bath temperature.
Fig. 3 and 4 shows the initial of the butane of example 1 and example 2 respectively and repeats adsorption isotherm.
Fig. 5 shows the initial of the propane of example 3 and repeats adsorption isotherm.
Fig. 6,7 and 8 shows the adsorption isotherm of the ethane (C2) of example 1,2 and 3, propane (C3), butane (C4) and pentane (C5) respectively.
adsorption penetration
GC/ mass spectrograph is used to measure the breakthrough curve data of polymeric adsorbent.Calibration GC/ mass spectrum, then loads to sample column by 40g sample.Analysis package is containing the CH of the ratio of 40/40/40/40 standard cubic centimeters per minute (SCCM) 4/ C 2h 6/ C 3h 8/ C4H 10mist.Gas starts flowing.This flowing is diverted through packed bed (i.e. post).Make system balancing 2 hours.Then by gas that spectrometer analysis is shunted.After postponing at two minutes, open three-way valve and enter filling column to make mist.Record leaves the analytical data of mass spectrum of the mist of filling column.Allow system cloud gray model until whole four kinds of gases are analyzed in a mass spectrometer and recorded.The time of break-through of each gas enumerated by table 1.
Table 1
* be not example of the present invention

Claims (3)

1., from the method comprising methane and ethane, propane, butane, pentane or one or more the natural gas feed stream separating natural gas-liquid more heavy hydrocarbon, it comprises following steps:
A () providing package contains the adsorbent bed of partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium, wherein said adsorbent media adsorbs ethane, propane, butane, pentane, more heavy hydrocarbon and/or its mixture;
B () makes described natural gas feed flow through described pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent bed to provide the pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent medium of natural gas flow and the load of being rich in methane;
C () reclaims, carry, liquefy or be rich in described in burning the natural gas flow of methane,
(d) adsorbed by desorption ethane, propane, butane, pentane, more heavy hydrocarbon and/or its mixture and make the pyrolysis macroporous polymeric adsorbent cleaning of medium of described load for re-using,
And
E () reclaims separately and/or as a mixture, described ethane of carrying, liquefy, reinject, get rid of, shunt or burn, propane, butane, pentane, more heavy hydrocarbon.
2. the wherein said partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer of method according to claim 1 comprises containing average cd scope between 50 to 100, macropore between 000 dust, carbon fixation part and derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer or condensation can produce the controlled thermal degradation products of the monomer of macroporous polymer or the macroporous synthetic polymer of its mixture, described partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer comprises and has following particle: the carbon of (a) at least 85 % by weight, b () macropore average cd scope is between 50 dusts to 100, hydrocarbon atom ratio between the multi-modal distribution of pores of 000 dust and (c) 1.5: 1 and 20: 1.
3. method according to claim 1, wherein said partial thermal decomposition macroporous polymer comprises particle, and the surface area of wherein said particle passes through N 2absorption measure and scope between 50 and 1500m 2between/g, wherein said macropore as pressure mercury technology measure contribution about 6 to about 700m 2/ g.
CN201480040673.8A 2013-08-06 2014-08-05 Method for extracting natural gas liquids from natural gas using an adsorbent media comprising a partially pyrolized macroporous polymer Pending CN105377402A (en)

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