Simplified Process To Remove Dissolved Oxygen From Hydrocarbon Streams

CATEGORY: FUELS CHEMISTRY
PATENT
Simplified Process To Remove Dissolved Oxygen From Hydrocarbon Streams
United States Patent Application 20120103194
Inventors:
Sohn, Stephen W. (Arlington Heights, IL, US)
Lankton, Steven P. (Wheeling, IL, US)
Majumder, Debarshi (Forest Park, IL, US)
Schiavone, Brian J. (Palatine, IL, US)
Application Number: 12/913243
Publication Date: 05/03/2012
Assignee: UOP LLC (Des Plaines, IL, US)
Abstract:
A process is presented for the removal of dissolved oxygen from hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbons streams include kerosene and jet fuels. The process includes mixing the hydrocarbons streams with an oxygen free gas to form a gas-liquid mixture. The mixture is allowed to disengage into a gas stream and a liquid stream, thereby removing dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the processes of treating fluids. In particular, the invention relates to the treatment of fuels to remove oxygen contaminated materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chemicals, and in particular, hydrocarbon mixtures, that are stored for extended periods of time can become contaminated, or in the presence of contaminants accumulate deposits that are detrimental to the equipment through which the chemicals flow. In particular, fuels can often sit in storage containment units, such as storage tanks or shipping vessels. The fuels are usually hydrocarbon mixtures, and contaminants in the fuels can bring about some polymerization or the creation of gums. These molecules can impair the performance of engines which run on the fuel. The gums or other materials can create deposits, that impair flow, or heat transfer characteristics in an engine, which in turn can impair engine performance.

An important contaminant is oxygen. Oxygen contaminants lead to undesirable chemical products by a variety of reaction processes. These reactions include autocatalytic mechanisms that include free radical chain reactions. Olefins in the presence of oxygenate contaminants can lead to polymerization of the olefin monomers and can lead to deposits of large polymeric molecules. Fouling causes increased maintenance of equipment, and reduces operation times, and a loss of production.

The removal of oxygen and residual oxygen contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks can reduce the down times and protect equipment from excessive fouling due to deposits created from reactions by the presence of oxygen in the hydrocarbon feedstocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Oxygen contamination in a jet fuel, or in kerosene is an important problem. The present invention provides a method of removing residual dissolved oxygen and oxygen containing compounds to prevent the problems associated with the presence of oxygen in either a jet fuel or kerosene. It has been unexpectedly found that a simple, yet effective means of removing oxygen is to intimately and vigorously mix the jet fuel or kerosene with an oxygen free gas, and to subsequently separate the gas and liquid. This removes the oxygen from the jet fuel or kerosene. The mixed jet fuel or kerosene and gas are passed to a separation vessel, where the gas and liquid phases separate. The separated gas is drawn off the top of the vessel, and the liquid phase is drawn off at a point from the vessel below the gas liquid interface. Typically, the draw off port for the liquid will be located on the bottom of the vessel.

Additional objects, embodiments and details of this invention can be obtained from the following drawings and detailed description of the invention.

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