US4035166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regeneration of regenerable aqueous scrubbing solutions used for removing acidic gases from gas mixtures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-24
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1995-12-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a process for the regeneration of regenerable aqueous scrubbing solutions which are used for the bulk removal of acidic gases, by absorption from gas mixtures containing these acidic gases, in a cyclic process in which said aqueous scrubbing solutions are regenerated in a regeneration system by steam stripping before being recycled to the absorption stage, a part of the scrubbing solutions being regenerated in a main regeneration section of the regeneration system, whereas the other part of the scrubbing solutions is regenerated in an auxiliary regeneration section of the regeneration system. According to the invention, the pressure in the auxiliary regeneration section is selected independently from the pressure in the main regeneration section and at least a part of the stripping steam required in the auxiliary regeneration section is obtained through flashing of the scrubbing solution in a reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a steam-jet thermocompressor, the mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapor being directly discharged into said auxiliary regeneration section.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis Van Hecke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1425; B01D53/1456
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A process for the regeneration of regenerable aqueous scrubbing solutions which are used for the bulk removal of acidic gases, by absorption from gas mixtures containing these acidic gases, in a cyclic process in which said aqueous scrubbing solutions are regenerated in a regeneration system by stream stripping before being recycled to the absorption stage, a part of the scrubbing solutions being regenerated in a main regeneration section of the regeneration system, whereas the other part of the scrubbing solutions is regenerated in an auxiliary regeneration section of the regeneration system, the process comprising the steps of selecting the pressure in the auxiliary regeneration section independently from the pressure in the main regeneration section and of obtaining at least a part of the stripping steam required in the auxiliary regeneration section through flashing of the scrubbing solution of which at least a part consists of the solution stream withdrawn from said auxiliary regeneration section in a reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a steam-jet thermocompressor, the mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour being directly discharged into said auxiliary regeneration section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A process for the regeneration of regenerable aqueous scrubbing solutions which are used for the bulk removal of acidic gases, by absorption from gas mixtures containing these acidic gases, in a cyclic process in which said aqueous scrubbing solutions are regenerated in a regeneration system by stream stripping before being recycled to the absorption stage, a part of the scrubbing solutions being regenerated in a main regeneration section of the regeneration system, whereas the other part of the scrubbing solutions is regenerated in an auxiliary regeneration section of the regeneration system, the process comprising the steps of selecting the pressure in the auxiliary regeneration section independently from the pressure in the main regeneration section and of obtaining at least a part of the stripping steam required in the auxiliary regeneration section through flashing of the scrubbing solution of which at least a part consists of the solution stream withdrawn from said auxiliary regeneration section in a reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a steam-jet thermocompressor, the mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour being directly discharged into said auxiliary regeneration section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process according to claim 1, in which all the stripping steam required in the auxiliary regeneration section is obtained by flashing of the scrubbing solution in at least one reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a steam-jet thermocompressor, the mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour being directly introduced into said auxiliary regeneration section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the pressure in the auxiliary regeneration section is lower than the pressure in the main regeneration section and a part of the stripping steam required in said auxiliary regeneration section is obtained by direct flashing of the scrubbing solution upon pressure reduction from the higher pressure of the main regeneration section to the lower pressure of the auxiliary regeneration section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process according to claim 3, in which the flashing to a reduced pressure, induced by the operation of a steam-jet ejector, is performed on a solution comprising at least one further stream of at least a partially regenerated scrubbing solution withdrawn from at least one further point of any one of the regeneration sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the pressure in the auxiliary regeneration section is at least equal to the pressure in the main regeneration section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process according to claim 5, in which the flashing to a reduced pressure, induced by the operation of the steam-jet ejector is performed on a solution comprising at least one further stream of at least a partially regenerated scrubbing solution withdrawn from at least one further point of any of the regeneration sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1, in which a part of the mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour is discharged in the main regeneration section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the spent scrubbing solution is separated in two fractions which are introduced respectively into the main regeneration section and into the auxiliary regeneration section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 1, in which all the spent scrubbing solution is introduced into the main regeneration section and a side stream of partially regenerated scrubbing solution is withdrawn from the main regeneration section and introduced into the auxiliary regeneration section, operating in parallel with said main regeneration section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process according to claim 1, in which two different scrubbing solution which have been used in separate gas absorption sections are regenerated in a single regeneration system comprising one main regenaration section and one auxiliary regeneration section, the stripping steam which has been used for the regeneration of one of the spent scrubbing solutions being reused as stripping steam for the regeneration of at least part of the other spent scrubbing solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A process according to claim 10, in which at least a part of the stripping steam used in the auxiliary section is obtained by flashing at least one stream of any one of the at least partially regenerated different scrubbing solutions, whereby each of said streams is withdrawn from one point of any one of the regeneration sections and flashed in one corresponding reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a corresponding steam-jet thermocompressor, and whereby each obtained mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour is discharged directly into said auxiliary section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A process according to claim 10, in which at least a part of the stripping steam used in the auxiliary regeneration section is obtained by flashing at least one stream of any one of the at lest partially regenerated different scrubbing solutions, whereby each one of said streams is withdrawn from one point of any one of the regeneration sections and flashed in one corresponding reduced pressure zone connected to the suction side of a corresponding steam-jet thermocompressor, and whereby at least one obtained mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapor is discharged, at least partially, into said auxiliary regeneration section, and any remaining mixture of thermocompressor motive steam and recompressed flashed vapour is discharged into the main regeneration section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said acidic gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , H 2 S, HCN, COS, SO 2 or a mercaptan.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said acidic gas is CO 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said regenerable aqueous scrubbing solution is a solution of a material selected from the group consisting of an alkaline carbonate, an alkanolamine, an alkali metal salt of an amino acid, an alkaline phosphate, an alkaline phenate, an alkaline borate, an alkali metal sulfate or an alkali metal bisulfate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 15, wherein said material is potassium carbonate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 15, wherein said material is diethanolamine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2886405A
Cited
US2868327A
Cited
US3217466A
Cited
US3236030A
Cited
US3563695A
Cited
US3553936A
Cited
US3563696A
Cited
FR2057503A5
Cited
US3823222A
Cited
US3773895A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |