Removal of deposits from solid desiccant-containing dehydrators

Abstract

Abstract DEPOSITS WHICH OCCUR IN DESICCANT BEDS USED TO DEHYDRATE GASES CONTAINING DEPOSITABLE MATERIAL OR POLYMERIZABLE CONSTITUENTS ARE REMOVED BY ADDING WITH THE GASES PASSING TO THE DESICCANT BED A SOLVENT FOR THE DEPOSITABLE MATERIAL SO AS TO ADSORB IN THE DESICCANT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SOLVENT WHICH UPON REGENERATION OF THE DESICCANT BED LEAVES THE BED TOGETHER WITH THE DEPOSITABLE MATERIAL AS WHEN THE BED IS REGENERATED WITH HOT REGENERATED GASES. IN ONE EMBODIMENT AN UNSATURATED HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING GAS, E.G., AN ETHYLENE-CONTAINING GAS, RESULTING FROM THE PYROLYTIC CONVERSION OF A SATURATED HYDROCARBON SUCH AS ETHANE OR PROPANE, IS PASSED, AT LEAST FOR A PORTION OF THE TIME IT IS BEING DEHYDRATED, TOGETHER WITH AN AROMATIC SOLVENT, FOR EXAMPLE, BENZENE OR TOLUENE, INTO THE DESICCANT BED. THE FOW OF SOLVENT NEED NOT BE CONTINUOUS. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT SOLVENT IS PLACED UPON THE DESICCANT BED BEFORE THE GASES ARE PASSED THERETO SO THAT SOLVENT WILL BE PRESENT AS THE DEPOSITABLE MATERIAL COATS ONTO THE DESICCANT. IN THE CASE OF POLYMERIZABLE MATERIAL WHICH WILL POLYMERIZE AND HARDEN DURING THE HEATED REGENERATION CYCLE, THE SOLVENT AIDS IN THE REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITABLE MATERIAL AND THE SOLVENT CAN BE RECOVERED THEREFROM FOR REUSE. IN A MODIFICATION AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SOLVENT IS INTERMINGLED WITH THE GAS FEED AND THE MIXTURE PASSED TO A SEPARATION ZONE FOR SEPARATION OF LIQUID. THIS FURTHER PROLONGS THE USEFUL LIFE AND EFFICIENCY OF THE DESICCANT.

Inventors

• 👤 William C Clark
• 👤 Tommy R Miller

Bibliographic Details