Process and apparatus for regenerating wet glycols

Claim 2

A process for regenerating wet glycol containing free oxygen which comprises a. removing free oxygen from said wet glycol by stripping the wet glycol at a temperature in the range of about 70° to 150° F with a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon gases, fuel gases, inert gases and mixtures thereof; b. thereafter removing water from said wet glycol to obtain dry glycol; and c. recovering said dry glycol.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water from said wet glycol is removed by heating said wet glycol to a temperature in the range of about 300° to 400° F at a pressure of 0 to about 20 psig.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said glycol has from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms per molecule.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas is fuel gas.

Claim 6

Apparatus for regenerating a wet, oxygen-containing glycol comprising a. a source of oxygen-containing wet glycol; b. a first stripping unit means for stripping oxygen from said wet oxygen-containing glycol maintained at a temperature of about 70° to 150° F; c. a second stripping unit means for removing water from said wet glycol; d. first conduit means connecting said source with an inlet of said first stripping unit for wet glycol; e. a source means for a stripping gas selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon gases, fuel gases, inert gases and mixtures thereof; f. a gas inlet means into said first stripping unit means connected to said source for a stripping gas; g. a gas outlet means from said first stripping unit means; h. second conduit means for connecting an outlet of said first stripping unit means for the wet glycol with an inlet of said second stripping unit means; and i. third conduit means for withdrawing dry liquid glycol from said second stripping unit means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for regenerating a wet, oxygen-containing glycol comprising a. a source of oxygen-containing wet glycol; b. a first stripping unit means for stripping oxygen from said wet oxygen-containing glycol maintained at a temperature of about 70° to 150° F; c. a second stripping unit means for removing water from said wet glycol; d. first conduit means connecting said source with an inlet of said first stripping unit for wet glycol; e. a source means for a stripping gas selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon gases, fuel gases, inert gases and mixtures thereof; f. a gas inlet means into said first stripping unit means connected to said source for a stripping gas; g. a gas outlet means from said first stripping unit means; h. second conduit means for connecting an outlet of said first stripping unit means for the wet glycol with an inlet of said second stripping unit means; and i. third conduit means for withdrawing dry liquid glycol from said second stripping unit means.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said source for a stripping gas is a fuel gas source, said apparatus comprising a. fuel gas burner operatively connected to said second stripping unit for heating the wet glycol; and b. a gas line connecting the gas outlet of said first stripping unit with said burner.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second stripping unit means comprises a heater for heating said wet glycol to a temperature where the glycol and the water substantially separate.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second conduit means comprise first heat exchange means for putting the wet glycol in indirect heat exchange relationship with the vapor phase of said second stripping unit.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second conduit means comprise second heat exchange means for putting said wet glycol stream in indirect heat exchange relationship with the dry liquid glycol effluent from the second stripping unit.