Molecular sieve abstract
The invention relates to a process for drying a gaseous or liquid
mixture by passing the said mixture into an adsorber, characterized
in that the water adsorption equilibrium zone of the adsorber comprises
an upstream alumina zone and a downstream molecular sieve zone.
Molecular sieve claims
What is claimed is:
1. A process for drying a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing
said mixture into an adsorber, the adsorber including a water adsorption
equilibrium zone and a water adsorption mass transfer zone, the
equilibrium zone comprising an upstream alumina zone and a downstream
molecular sieve zone, the mass transfer zone comprising a downstream
portion of the molecular sieve zone, water concentration in the
mass transfer zone varying from zero to the maximum water concentration
at the equilibrium zone, the liquid or gaseous mixture additionally
including HCl, the water adsorption zone of the adsorber being preceded,
in the direction of flow of the mixture in the adsorber, by an alumina-based
zone which removes HCl present in the mixture.
2. A process for drying a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing
said mixture into an adsorber, the adsorber including a water adsorption
equilibrium zone and a water adsorption mass transfer zone, the
equilibrium zone comprising an upstream alumina zone and a downstream
molecular sieve zone, the mass transfer zone comprising a downstream
portion of the molecular sieve zone, water concentration in the
mass transfer zone varying from zero to the maximum water concentration
at the equilibrium zone, the liquid or gaseous mixture additionally
including H.sub.2 S, the water adsorption zone of the adsorber being
followed, in the direction of flow of the mixture in the adsorber,
by molecular sieve-based zone which removes H.sub.2 S present in
the mixture.
3. A process for drying a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing
said mixture into an adsorber, the adsorber including a water adsorption
equilibrium zone and a water adsorption mass transfer zone, the
equilibrium zone comprising an upstream alumina zone and a downstream
molecular sieve zone, the mass transfer zone comprising a downstream
portion of the molecular sieve zone, water concentration in the
mass transfer zone varying from zero to the maximum water concentration
at the equilibrium zone, the liquid or gaseous mixture additionally
including H.sub.2 S and HCl, the water adsorption zone of the adsorber
being preceded, in the direction of flow of the mixture in the adsorber,
by an alumina-based zone which removes HCl present in the mixture,
and the water adsorption zone being followed by a molecular sieve-based
zone which removes H.sub.2 S present in the mixture.
4. A process for drying a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing
said mixture into an adsorber, the adsorber including a water adsorption
equilibrium zone and a water adsorption mass transfer zone, the
equilibrium zone comprising an upstream alumina zone and a downstream
molecular sieve zone, the mass transfer zone comprising a downstream
portion of the molecular sieve zone, water concentration in the
mass transfer zone varying from zero to the maximum water concentration
at the equilibrium zone, wherein in the water adsorption equilibrium
zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina to that
of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and 0.8 at
an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber,
wherein the liquid or gaseous mixture additionally includes H.sub.2
S and HCl, the water adsorption zone of the adsorber being preceded,
in the direction of flow of the mixture in the adsorber, by an alumina-based
zone which removes HCl present in the mixture, and the water adsorption
zone being followed by a molecular-sieve-based zone which removes
H.sub.2 S present in the mixture.
5. Process according to claim 1 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.95 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
6. Process according to claim 5 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
7. Process according to claim 6 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.2 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
8. Process according to claim 1 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.30 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
9. Process according to claim 2 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.95 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
10. Process according to claim 9 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
11. Process according to claim 10 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.2 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
12. Process according to claim 2 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.30 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
13. Process according to claim 3 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.95 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
14. Process according to claim 13 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
15. Process according to claim 14 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.2 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
16. Process according to claim 3 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.30 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
17. Process according to claim 4 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.2 and
0.8 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
18. Process according to claim 4 wherein in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone of the adsorber, the ratio Q of the volume of alumina
to that of alumina and of the molecular sieve is between 0.05 and
0.30 at an instant when water breaks through at an exit of the adsorber.
Molecular sieve description
Processes for removing water from industrial gases or from a mixture
of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons by passing the latter through
adsorbents are known.
Molecular sieves are particularly employed for such processes.
However, molecular sieves deteriorate rapidly because of the presence
of so-called insoluble, that is to say liquid, water in the gases
or liquids to be dried. In fact, this results in a loss of water
removal efficiency and accelerated aging of the sieves.
To avoid this, it is known to protect molecular sieves with a layer
of alumina, silica gel or active carbon, the purpose of which is
to adsorb the liquid water. Combinations of alumina layers and of
molecular sieves make it possible to extend the lifetime of the
sieve and to ensure good drying of the gases or liquids.
However, there is still a perceptible need for an increase in the
lifetime of these molecular sieves and of their adsorption effectiveness.
The aim of the invention is to propose a process for the removal
of water from industrial gases or from a mixture of gaseous or liquid
hydrocarbons with the aid of an adsorbent composed of the combination
of layers of molecular sieves and of alumina, in order to obtain
a satisfactory water removal efficiency while considerably reducing
the aging of the adsorbent.
The objective of the invention is to propose a process for drying
a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing the said mixture into an
adsorber, characterized in that the water adsorption equilibrium
zone of the adsorber comprises an upstream alumina zone and a downstream
molecular sieve zone.
Other characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the
description and the nonlimiting examples.
The invention relates first of all to a process for drying a gaseous
or liquid mixture by passing the said mixture into an adsorber,
characterized in that the water adsorption equilibrium zone of the
adsorber comprises an upstream alumina zone and a downstream molecular
sieve zone.
More precisely, this process deals with the removal from gaseous
or liquid mixtures. The composition of this mixture may be very
varied. Industrial gases or mixtures of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons
may be especially mentioned. Gases to be dried may be, for example,
natural gases of methane, ethane type, etc., or associated gases
obtained during the liquid/gas separation of petroleum fractions,
gases originating from steam cracking or from fluid catalytic cracking
(FCC), industrial gases such as pure gases: N.sub.2 O.sub.2 Ar,
etc., coke plant gases or gases originating from processes such
as catalytic reforming, hydrocracking etc. The liquids to be dried
may be natural-gas condensates of CO.sub.2 type, liquid air or LPGs
(liquid petroleum gases) such as, for example, propane or butane.
These mixtures may be unsaturated, saturated or supersaturated
with water.
The process uses the principle of separation of water from gases
or liquids containing it by adsorption thereof on layers of aluminas
and of is molecular sieves. The process consists in introducing
the gases or liquids to be dried into an adsorber where they will
encounter in succession a layer of alumina and a layer of molecular
sieve. The introduction of the gases or liquids can take place equally
well via the top as via the bottom of the adsorber, as long as the
gases or liquids pass firstly into the alumina layer and only subsequently
into the molecular sieve layer.
In the use of the process the alumina adsorbs water in gaseous
form, but also essentially water in liquid form, whereas the molecular
sieve now adsorbs only the gaseous water.
In the process according to the invention it is essential that
the alumina and the molecular sieve should be introduced in precise
conditions. It is necessary, firstly, that the alumina should not
be situated in the water adsorption mass transfer zone of the adsorber.
The concept of mass transfer zone, employed here, corresponds to
the conventional concept of mass transfer zone in the technical
field of adsorptions on beds, that is to say that it is defined
as the portion of the adsorber in which the concentration of the
adsorbate, in this case water, on the adsorbent varies from zero
concentration to the maximum adsorption concentration at the equilibrium.
This mass transfer zone is generally of constant length and moves
during the adsorption cycle, right from the entry of the adsorber
up to its exit (in the direction of introduction of the gases or
liquids).
Very precisely, the mass transfer zone is defined in this invention
as the mass transfer zone taken at the instant when the water breaks
through at the exit of the adsorber, that is to say at the instant
when the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent is saturated and the
cycle ended.
Secondly, it is necessary that the alumina should be placed in
the so-called upstream zone of the water absorption equilibrium
zone of the adsorber and the molecular sieve in the so-called downstream
zone of the said equilibrium zone of the adsorber.
The upstream zone, comprising alumina, corresponds to the part
of the equilibrium zone which is the first one in contact with the
gases or liquids to be dried, and the downstream zone, comprising
the molecular sieve, corresponds to the part of the equilibrium
zone which is the last one in contact with the gaseous or liquid
mixture to be dried.
The equilibrium zone itself also corresponds to the conventional
concept of an equilibrium zone in the technical field of adsorptions
on beds. It is therefore defined as the portion of the adsorber
in which the concentration of the adsorbate, in this case water,
on the same single adsorbent is constant. The length of this equilibrium
zone increases during the adsorption cycle.
In the context of the invention the equilibrium zone is also defined
as the equilibrium zone taken at the instant when the water breaks
through at the exit of the adsorber, that is to say at the instant
when the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent is saturated and the
cycle finished, and therefore at the same instant when the mass
transfer zone is defined.
In practice, the mass transfer zone is defined from adsorption
isotherms of the adsorbents employed, at a pressure and temperature
which are fixed, and from the internal and external diffusion coefficients
of the adsorbates in the adsorbents; the equilibrium zone is determined
from the adsorption isotherms of the adsorbents employed at fixed
temperature and pressure.
In the equilibrium zone of the adsorber the ratio of the volume
of alumina to that of the alumina and of the molecular sieve (Q)
is generally not more than 0.95.
In this case and throughout the description the volumes of alumina
and of molecular sieve correspond to the volumes determined at the
time of charging of the adsorber.
In the equilibrium zone of the adsorber the ratio of the volume
of alumina to that of the alumina and of the molecular sieve (Q)
is preferably between 0.05 and 0.95; still more preferably this
ratio is between 0.05 and 0.8 and more preferably between 0.2 and
0.8 as a function of the embodiments.
In the case where the gaseous or liquid mixture is supersaturated
or saturated with water and according to a first embodiment, the
ratio of the volume of alumina to that of alumina and of the molecular
sieve in the water adsorption equilibrium zone (Q) is preferably
between 0.5 and 0.8. Such a ratio of volumes will allow the water
to be removed efficiently. It is considered that a gaseous mixture
is supersaturated with water when it contains, at a given temperature
and pressure, water in gaseous phase and in liquid phase; and that
a liquid mixture is supersaturated with water when it contains miscible
water and water which is not miscible with the constituents of the
liquid.
According to a second embodiment, which corresponds to the case
where the gaseous or liquid mixture is undersaturated or saturated
with water, the ratio of the volume of alumina to that of alumina
and of molecular sieve in the water adsorption equilibrium zone
(Q) is preferably between 0.05 and 0.30. A gaseous mixture is undersaturated
with water at a given temperature and pressure when it contains
a quantity of gaseous water which is lower than that corresponding
to saturation, the said saturation corresponding to the maximum
solubility of water in the gaseous mixture at a given temperature
and pressure. A liquid mixture is undersaturated with water at a
given temperature when it contains a quantity of miscible water
which is lower than that at saturation, the saturation corresponding
to the maximum solubility of water in the liquid mixture at a given
temperature.
The aluminas employed in the process according to the invention
are generally the product of rapid dehydration of at least one aluminium
hydroxide such as bayerite, hydrargillite or gibbsite, nordstrandite
and/or of at least one aluminium oxyhydroxide such as boehmite,
pseudoboehmite and diaspore. They may be the product in particular
of the process described in Patent FR 1 108 011. It is also possible
to employ alumina gels.
The special aluminas Spheralite.RTM. 501 A and C, 505 A and CR,
marketed by Procatalyse are suitable for this type of process.
All types of molecular sieves which are suitable for drying gaseous
or liquid mixtures can be employed. These sieves may in particular
include zeolites. Zeolites chosen from the group including zeolites
A and X will be used preferably. Still more preferably, molecular
sieves will be employed which are composed of zeolite formed with
the aid of a binder which may be a clay (kaolinite, bentonite, montmorillonite,
attapulgite etc.), an alumina (alumina gel or alumina produced by
the rapid dehydration of aluminium hydroxides or oxyhydroxides),
an amorphous mixture of silica and alumina, a silica gel or titanium
oxide.
The nature of the layer of molecular sieve and the size of the
molecular sieves in the mass transfer zone and in the equilibrium
zone may be different. For example, if the sieve is in the form
of extrudates, their diameters may vary, depending on whether they
are in the mass transfer zone or in the water adsorption equilibrium
zone.
The process requires the use of at least one adsorber which is
filled in the proportions and with the products defined above. The
unit making use of the process may consist of a number of adsorbers
operating in series or in parallel, some operating in an adsorption
mode while the others operate in a regeneration mode.
The invention also relates to a process for drying a liquid or
gaseous mixture as defined above, in which the mixture additionally
includes HCl, and characterized in that the water adsorption zone
of the adsorber is preceded, in the direction of flow of the mixture
in the adsorber, by an alumina-based zone making it possible to
remove the HCl present in the mixture.
The drying process according to the invention may therefore be
combined more generally with processes for removal of compounds
other than water, such as, for example, HCl. In this case the gaseous
or liquid mixture from which it is desired to remove water and HCl
is introduced into an adsorber including an alumina-based first
adsorption zone for HCl and a second adsorption zone for water,
which makes use of the process according to the invention, that
is to say a water adsorption zone in which the equilibrium zone
comprises an upstream alumina zone and a downstream molecular sieve
zone.
The first adsorption zone for HCl generally consists of an alumina
of the same type as those mentioned above and preferably doped with
an alkaline-earth material.
The invention also relates to a process for drying a liquid or
gaseous mixture as defined above, in which the mixture additionally
includes H.sub.2 S, and characterized in that the water adsorption
zone of the adsorber is followed, in the direction of flow of the
mixture in the adsorber, by a molecular sieve-based zone making
it possible to remove the H.sub.2 S present in the mixture.
In this case the gaseous or liquid mixture from which it is desired
to remove water and H.sub.2 S is introduced into an adsorber including
a first adsorption zone for water, which makes use of the process
according to the invention, that is to say a water adsorption zone
in which the equilibrium zone comprises an upstream alumina zone
and a downstream molecular sieve zone, and a molecular sieve-based
second adsorption zone for H.sub.2 S.
The second adsorption zone for H.sub.2 S is generally based on
molecular sieves of the type of those mentioned above, involving
preferably type 5A molecular sieves.
Finally, the invention relates to a process for drying a liquid
or gaseous mixture as defined above, in which the mixture additionally
includes HCl and H.sub.2 S, and characterized in that the water
adsorption zone of the adsorber is preceded, in the direction of
flow of the mixture within the adsorber, by an alumina-based zone
making it possible to remove the HCl present in the mixture, and
followed by a molecular sieve-based zone making it possible to remove
the H.sub.2 S present in the mixture.
Some first principles of the running conditions of the adsorbers
are given below by way of examples, it being understood that a person
skilled in the art will, if necessary, adapt these conditions as
a function of the type of gaseous or liquid mixture being treated.
The surface velocity of the gaseous mixture in the adsorber is
between 1 and 20 m/min and that of the liquid mixture between 0.1
and 2 m/min.
The pressure within the adsorber is between 600 mm Hg and 150 bars.
The temperature within the adsorber is between -40 and 100.degree.
C.
When the adsorption is finished the adsorber is regenerated by
introduction of a fluid while the temperature is raised and/or by
reduction in the partial pressure. The temperature may be between
0 and 350.degree. C. and the regeneration pressure (PG) between
1 and 120 bars. In the case of reduction in the partial pressure,
the pressure reduction is at most 4 bars/min.
The following examples illustrate the invention without, however,
limiting its scope.
EXAMPLES 1 TO 14
In all the examples 1 to 14 the gas being treated is natural gas
whose composition by volume is the following:
Nitrogen 1.3% CO.sub.2 3.0% Methane 75.3% Ethane 11.6% Propane
4.6% Isobutane 1.2% n-Butane 1.4% Isopentane 0.4% n-Pentane 0.4%
n-Hexane 0.1% n-Heptane 0.1% H.sub.2 S 10 ppm by volume,
its water content varying from 1000 ppm to 1450 ppm by volume.
In all the examples the operating conditions of adsorption are
the following:
Pressure 46.0 bars Temperature 30.degree. C. Adsorption time 24
hours Flow rate per drier 30 Sm.sup.3 /h Flow direction upward
and the operating conditions for regeneration are the following:
Gas type dry natural gas Regeneration pressure 40 or 15 bars Flow
direction downward Temperature 260.degree. C. Heating time 4 h Cooling
time 4 h Gas flow rate 4 Sm.sup.3 /h
The unit consists of three adsorbers operating in parallel, two
of which adsorb when the third desorbs.
With the fluid travelling upwards, the equilibrium zone, made up
in its lower layer or upstream zone of an alumina layer and in its
upper layer or downstream zone of a molecular sieve layer, is found
in the bottom of the column, and the water adsorption mass transfer
zone, made up only of the molecular sieve, is found above the water
adsorption equilibrium zone.
The adsorbers are columns of 70 mm internal diameter. The alumina
employed in the equilibrium zone is Spheralite.RTM. 501A alumina
marketed by Procatalyse; this is an activated alumina which is in
the form of beads from 2 to 5 mm in diameter. The molecular sieve
employed in the equilibrium zone is a zeolite in the form of extrudates
of 3.2-mm diameter, and that in the mass transfer zone a zeolite
in the form of extrudates of 1.6-mm diameter. In both cases this
is molecular sieve 4 ANG marketed by Procatalyse.
EXAMPLES 1 to 4
The natural gas to be treated is undersaturated with water and
contains 1000 ppm of water by volume.
The aging factors (F) of two units operating according to the process
of the invention, one with a ratio of the volume of alumina to the
volume of alumina and of the molecular sieve, in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone, Q, of 0.107 the other of 0.152 are set in parallel
with the aging factors of a unit consisting solely, in its water
adsorption equilibrium zone, of molecular sieve (Q=0) and of a unit
consisting solely, in its water adsorption equilibrium zone, of
alumina (Q=1).
The aging factor is the ratio of the real water adsorption capacity
of the adsorbent system at the end of x regenerations, to the real
water adsorption capacity of the new adsorbent system, that is to
say at the end of one regeneration.
More precisely, the adsorbers according to the invention have the
following composition:
TABLE 1 Example Example Comparative Comparative 1 2 Example 3 Example
4 Mass and Mass and Mass and Mass and volume in volume in volume
in volume in the unit the unit the unit the unit Q = 0.107 Q = 0.152
Q = 1 Q = 0 Water adsorption equilibrium zone activated 0.6 l 0.85
l 5.6 l 0 l alumina 474 g 685 g 4450 g 0 g molecular 5.0 l 4.75
g 0 l 5.6 l sieve 3500 g 3300 g 0 g 3870 g Water adsorption mass
transfer zone molecular 1 l 1 l 1 l 1 l sieve 700 g 700 g 700 g
700 g
The aging factors (F) of the units of ratio Q=0.107 and 0.152
operating at a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars are measured
as a function of the number of regenerations of the adsorbers, and
are compared with the aging factors (F) of the units of ratio Q=0
and 1 operating at a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars.
Identical factors have been measured for the units of ratio Q=0.107
and 0.152. The following results are obtained:
TABLE 2 Examples 1 and 2 Comparative Comparative F for the units
Example 3 Example 4 Number of Q = 0.107 F for the F for the regenerations
and 0.152 unit Q = 1 unit Q = 0 per adsorber PG = 40 bars PG = 40
bars PG = 40 bars 1 1 1 1 10 0.96 0.92 0.88 100 0.90 0.88 0.78 200
0.88 0.80 0.69 500 0.85 0.75 0.60 700 0.84 0.60 0.52 1000 0.80 0.50
0.48
The water concentrations of the gases leaving the adsorbers of
Q=0.107 and 0.152 and of those from the adsorbers of Q=0 and 1 are
equivalent and lower than 0.1 ppm by volume.
EXAMPLES 5 to 7
The natural gas to be treated contains 1150 ppm of water by volume.
The aging factors of two units operating according to the process
of the invention, one with a ratio of the volume of alumina to the
volume of alumina and of the molecular sieve in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone, Q, of 0.141 the other of 0.25 are set in parallel
with the aging factors of a unit consisting, in its water adsorption
equilibrium zone, solely of molecular sieve and therefore of ratio
Q=0.
More precisely, the adsorbers according to the invention have the
following composition:
TABLE 3 Comparative Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Mass and volume
Mass and volume Mass and volume in the unit in the unit in the unit
Q = 0.141 Q = 0.25 Q = 0 Water adsorption equilibrium zone activated
0.9 l 1.6 l 0 l alumina 714 g 1270 g 0 g molecular 5.5 l 4.8 l 6.4
l sieve 3800 g 3325 g 4450 g Water adsorption mass transfer zone
molecular 1 l 1 l 1 l sieve 700 g 700 g 700 g
The aging factors (F) of the units of ratio Q=0.142 and 0.25 operating
at a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars are measured as a function
of the number of regenerations of the adsorbers and are compared
with the aging factors (F) of the unit of ratio Q=0 operating at
a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars or of 15 bars.
Identical factors have been measured for the units of ratio Q=0.142
and 0.25.
The following results are obtained:
TABLE 4 Examples 5 and 6 Comparative Comparative F of the units
Example 7 Example 7 Number of Q = 0.141 F of the F of the regenerations
and 0.25 unit Q = 0 unit Q = 0 per adsorber PG = 40 bars PG = 40
bars PG = 15 bars 1 1 1 1 10 0.96 0.91 0.93 100 0.90 0.86 0.88 200
0.88 0.78 0.82 500 0.85 0.70 0.75 700 0.84 0.55 0.65 1000 0.80 0.40
0.45
It is found that the aging of the adsorbers of ratio Q=0.142 and
0.25 is less accentuated than that of the adsorber of ratio Q=0
even if the latter is regenerated under a PG of 15 bars, which limits
the aging of the adsorber when compared with an operation at PG=40
bars.
The water concentrations of the gases leaving the adsorbers of
Q=0.141 and 0.25 and of those from the adsorber of Q=0 are equivalent
and lower than 0.1 ppm by volume.
EXAMPLES 8 to 10
The natural gas to be treated contains 1260 ppm of water by volume.
-
The aging factors of two units operating according to the process
of the invention, one with a ratio of the volume of alumina to the
volume of alumina and of the molecular sieve in the water adsorption
equilibrium zone (Q) of 0.292 the other of 0.5 are set in parallel
with the aging factors of a unit consisting, in its water adsorption
equilibrium zone, solely of molecular sieve, therefore of ratio
Q=0.
More precisely, the adsorbers according to the invention have the
following composition:
TABLE 5 Comparative Example 8 Example 9 Example 10 Mass and volume
Mass and volume Mass and volume in the unit in the unit in the unit
Q = 0.292 Q = 0.5 Q = 0 Equilibrium zone activated 2.1 l 3.6 l 0
l alumina 1660 g 2850 g 0 g molecular 5.1 l 3.6 l 7.2 l sieve 3519
g 2480 g 4950 g Mass transfer zone molecular 1 l 1 l 1 l sieve 700
g 700 g 700 g
The aging factors (F) of the units of ratio Q=0.296 and 0.5 operating
at a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars are measured as a function
of the number of regenerations of the adsorbers and are compared
with the aging factors (F) of the unit of ratio Q=0 operating at
a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars or of 15 bars.
Identical factors have been measured for the units of ratio Q=0.292
and 0.5.
The following results are obtained:
TABLE 6 Examples 8 and 9 Comparative Comparative F of the units
Example 10 Example 10 Number of Q = 0.292 F of the F of the regenerations
and 0.5 unit Q = 0 unit Q = 0 per adsorber PG = 40 bars PG = 40
bars PG = 15 bars 1 1 1 1 10 0.97 0.88 0.90 100 0.92 0.72 0.76 200
0.88 0.52 0.56 500 0.85 0.42 0.45 700 0.84 0.35 0.39 1000 0.80 0.15
0.20
It is found that the aging of the adsorbers of ratio Q=0.296 and
0.5 is less accentuated than that of the adsorber of ratio Q=0
even if the latter is generated at a PG of 15 bars, which limits
the aging of the adsorber when compared with an operation at PG=40
bars.
The water concentrations of the gases leaving the adsorbers of
Q=0.296 and 0.5 and of those of the adsorber of Q=0 are equivalent
and lower than 0.1 ppm by volume.
EXAMPLES 11 to 14
The natural gas to be treated is supersaturated and contains 1450
ppm of water by volume.
The aging factors of two units operating according to the process
of the invention, one with a ratio of the volume of alumina to the
volume of alumina and of the molecular sieve in the equilibrium
zone of 0.5 the other of 0.8 are set in parallel with the aging
factors of a unit consisting, in its water adsorption equilibrium
zone, solely of molecular sieve and therefore of ratio Q=0 and of
a unit consisting, in its water adsorption equilibrium zone, solely
of alumina and therefore of ratio Q=1.
More precisely, the adsorbers according to the invention have the
following composition:
TABLE 7 Comparative Comparative Example Example Example Example
11 12 13 14 Mass and Mass and Mass and Mass and volume in volume
in volume in volume in the unit the unit the unit the unit Q = 0.5
Q = 0.8 Q = 0 Q = 1 Water adsorption equilibrium zone activated
4.18 l 6.68 l 0 l 8.36 l alumina 3300 g 5280 g 0 g 6600 g molecular
4.18 l 1.68 g 8.36 l 0 l sieve 2880 g 1180 g 5770 g 0 g Water adsorption
mass transfer zone molecular 1 l 1 l 1 l 1 l sieve 700 g 700 g 700
g 700 g
The aging factors (F) of the units of ratio Q=0.5 and 0.8 operating
at a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars are measured as a function
of the number of regenerations of the adsorbers and are compared
with the aging factors (F) of the unit of ratio Q=1 operating at
a regeneration pressure (PG) of 40 bars and to the aging factors
(F) of the unit of ratio Q=0 operating at a regeneration pressure
(PG) of 40 bars or 15 bars.
Identical factors are measured for the units of ratio Q=0.5 and
0.8.
The following results are obtained:
TABLE 8 Examples Comparative Comparative Comparative 11 and 12
Example 13 Example 14 Example 13 F of the F of the F of the F of
the Number of units unit unit Q = 1 unit Q = 0 regenera- Q = 0.5
Q = 0 PG = PG = tions per and 0.8 PG = 40 15 adsorber PG = 40 bars
40 bars bars bars 1 1 1 1 1 10 0.96 0.70 0.90 0.75 100 0.90 0.40
0.80 0.50 200 0.88 0.30 0.70 0.25 500 0.85 0.10 0.65 0.15 700 0.84
0 0.57 0.05 1000 0.80 0 0.50 0
The water concentrations of the gases leaving the adsorbers of
Q=0.5 and 0.8 and of those of the adsorbers of Q=0 and 1 are equivalent
and lower than 0.1 ppm by volume.
EXAMPLES 15 to 17
The gas treated is a hydrogen-rich gas whose composition in moles
is the following:
H.sub.2 80 Methane 10 Ethane 6 Hydrocarbons in which the number
4 of C is higher than 3
This gas also contains water, HCl and H.sub.2 S in the following
proportions:
Water 1000 ppm by volume HCl 20 ppm by volume H.sub.2 S 10 ppm
by volume
In this example the operating conditions of adsorption are the
following:
Pressure 10 bars Temperature 25.degree. C. Adsorption time 12 h
Flow rate 50 Sm.sup.3 /h Flow direction upward
and the operating conditions of regeneration are the following:
Gas type hydrogen-rich dry gas Regeneration 9.5 bars pressure Flow
direction downward Temperature 260.degree. C. Heating time 6 h Cooling
time 5.5 h Gas flow rate 5 Sm.sup.3 /h
The unit consists of two adsorbers operating in parallel, one of
which adsorbs while the other desorbs.
The adsorbers are columns of 1400 mm internal diameter.
The aging factor of a unit operating according to the process of
the invention with a ratio of the volume of alumina to the volume
of alumina and of the molecular sieve in the water adsorption equilibrium
zone of 0.2 is set in parallel with the aging factors of units consisting
solely of molecular sieve and therefore of ratio Q=0 or solely of
alumina and therefore of ratio Q=1.
More precisely, the units have the following compositions:
TABLE 9 Comparative Comparative Example 15 Example 16 Example 17
Q = 0.2 Q = 0 Q = 1 Mass and type Mass and type Mass and type of
adsorbent of adsorbent of adsorbent HCl adsorption zone activated
5000 g 0 g 5000 g alumina SAS 357 type SAS357 type molecular 0 g
5000 g 0 g sieve 4 ANG type Water adsorption equilibrium zone activated
500 g 0 g 2500 g alumina SAS 357 type SAS 357 type molecular 2000
g 2500 g 0 g sieve 4 ANG type 4 ANG type Water mass transfer zone
activated 0 g 0 g 500 g alumina SAS 357 type molecular 500 g 500
g 0 g sieve 4 ANG type 4 ANG type H.sub.2 S Adsorption zone activated
0 g 0 g 1900 g alumina SAS 357 type molecular 1900 g 1900 g 0 g
sieve 5 As type 4 ANG type
The SAS 357 alumina marketed by Procatalyse is made up of sodium-doped
alumina beads with a diameter of between 2 and 5 mm.
The 4ANG molecular sieve marketed by Procatalyse is a zeolite 4A
which is in the form of extrudates of 1.6 mm diameter.
The 5AS molecular sieve marketed by Procatalyse is a zeolite 5A
which is in the form of extrudates of 1.6 mm diameter.
The aging factors (F) of the units are measured as a function of
the number of regenerations of the adsorbers.
TABLE 10 Number of Aging factor Aging factor Aging factor regenerations
unit unit unit per adsorber Q = 0.2 Q = 0 Q = 1 1 1 1 1 10 0.97
0.90 0.93 100 0.91 0.70 0.85 200 0.88 0.60 0.7 500 0.8 0.40 0.6
700 0.75 0.20 0.5 1000 0.67 0 0.3
On leaving the adsorber whose Q is 0.2 the water content of the
gas is 0.2 ppm by volume, that of HCl 0.1 ppm by volume and that
of H.sub.2 S 0.1 ppm by volume. |