Process for ammonia recovery

• US 20020146363A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abraham Benderly, Keith Frederick Briegel, Michael Stanley Decourcy, Ronald Eugene Myers
• Original Assignee: Abraham Benderly, Keith Frederick Briegel, Michael Stanley Decourcy, Ronald Eugene Myers
• Inventors: DeCourcy, Michael Stanley, Benderly, Abraham, Briegel, Keith Frederick, Myers, Ronald Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/352
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/322 Reboiler specifications
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/343 the substance being a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/18 Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/02 Apparatus characterised by being constructed of material selected for its chemically-resistant properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00087 with heat exchange elements outside the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00101 Reflux columns
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00105 part or all of the reactants being heated or cooled outside the reactor while recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0209 of glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0236 Metal based
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0245 of synthetic organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0277 Metal based
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0286 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/029 Non-ferrous metals
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/12 Separation of ammonia from gases and vapours as part of the ammonia synthesis process C01C1/04

Abstract

An improved process for ammonia recovery is provided for the recovery of substantially pure ammonia for use in industrial processes. In this improved method, specific raw materials and/or specific materials of construction are used. Overall efficiency and operational cost savings are increased as a result of the process of the present invention.

Claims

1. An improved ammonia recovery system comprising:

(a) an ASD system and (b) a purification column, operably connected to the ASD system

wherein at least a portion of the ASD system is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

2. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the material of construction comprises low nickel content overlay material.

3. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 2 wherein the low nickel content overlay material is glass, epoxy, elastomer, fluoropolymer, or low nickel content metal.

4. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system contains a capture solution and is capable of receiving a fresh capture solution.

5. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 4 wherein the fresh capture solution has a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm.

6. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system comprises an absorber which contains a capture solution and which is capable of receiving a fresh capture solution wherein the fresh capture solution has a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm.

7. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system comprises a stripper, the stripper having stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a heat source, and wherein at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or heat source is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

8. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 7 wherein the heat source is a reboiler.

9. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system comprises a stripper, the stripper having stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a stripping gas addition system, and wherein at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or stripping gas addition system is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

10. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 9 wherein the stripping gas addition system is a heated stripping gas addition system.

11. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system comprises a dissociation column, the dissociation column having dissociation column ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a heat source, and wherein at least one of the dissociation column ancillaries, the bottom portion, or the heat source is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% by weight nickel.

12. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 11 wherein the heat source is a reboiler.

13. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 12 wherein the reboiler is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

14. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the ASD system comprises:

(a) an absorber, operably connected to

(b) a stripper, which, in turn, is operably connected to

(c) a dissociation column.

16. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 15 wherein the ASD system comprises an absorber, the fresh capture solution being fed to the absorber.

17. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 16 wherein the fresh capture solution is fed to the absorber in conjunction with a recycled stream of capture solution.

19. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 18 wherein the material of construction comprises low nickel content overlay material.

20. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 19 wherein the low nickel content overlay material is glass, epoxy, elastomer, fluoropolymer, or low nickel content metal.

21. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 18 wherein the dissociation-purification column has a heat source, the heat source being a reboiler.

22. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 21 wherein the reboiler is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

23. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 18 wherein the stripper has stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a heat source, and at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or heat source is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

24. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 23 wherein the heat source is a reboiler.

25. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 18 wherein the stripper has stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a stripping gas addition system, and at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or stripping gas addition system is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

26. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 25 wherein the stripping gas addition system is a heated stripping gas addition system.

27. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 18 wherein the absorber contains a capture solution and fresh capture solution having a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm is fed to the absorber.

30. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 29 wherein the material of construction comprises low nickel content overlay material.

31. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 30 wherein the low nickel content overlay material is glass, epoxy, elastomer, fluoropolymer, or low nickel content metal.

32. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 29 wherein the ASD system contains a capture solution and further comprising the additional step of adding a fresh capture solution to the ASD system.

33. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 32 wherein the fresh capture solution has a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm.

34. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 29 wherein the ASD system comprises an absorber capable of receiving fresh capture solution and wherein the fresh capture solution has a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm.

35. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 29 wherein the ASD system comprises a stripper, the stripper having stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a heat source, and at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or heat source is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

36. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 35 wherein the heat source is a reboiler.

37. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 29 wherein the ASD system comprises a stripper, the stripper having stripper ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a stripping gas addition system, and wherein at least one of the stripper ancillaries, bottom portion, or stripping gas addition system is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

38. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 37 wherein the stripping gas addition system is a heated stripping gas addition system.

39. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 29 wherein the ASD system comprises a dissociation column, the dissociation column having dissociation column ancillaries, a bottom portion, and a heat source, and wherein at least one of the dissociation column ancillaries, the bottom portion, or the heat source is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% by weight nickel.

40. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 39 wherein the heat source is a reboiler.

41. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 40 wherein the reboiler is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight.

42. A concentrated ammonia product stream produced by the process of claim 29.

15. An improved ammonia recovery system comprising:

(a) an ASD system, containing a capture solution and

(b) a purification column, operably connected to the ASD system,

wherein a fresh capture solution is fed to the ASD system and the fresh capture solution has a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm.

18. An improved ammonia recovery system comprising:

(a) an absorber, operably connected to

(b) a stripper, which, in turn, is operably connected to

(c) a dissociation-purification column,

wherein at least a portion of the stripper and/or at least a portion of the dissociation-purification column is comprised of a material of construction having not more than 20% nickel by weight.

28. An improved ammonia recovery system comprising:

(a) an absorber, operably connected to

(b) a stripper, which, in turn, is operably connected to

(c) a dissociation-purification column,

wherein the absorber contains a capture solution and wherein a fresh capture solution having a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm is fed to the absorber.

29. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from an industrial process stream comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus for the recovery of ammonia comprising;

(i) an ASD system, and

(ii) a purification column, operably connected thereto

wherein a portion of the ASD system is comprised of a material of construction having not more than 20% nickel by weight;

(b) conveying an industrial process stream containing ammonia to the apparatus; and

(c) refining the industrial process stream containing ammonia in the apparatus provided to produce a concentrated ammonia process stream.

43. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus for recovering ammonia comprising;

(i) an absorber, operably connected to

(ii) a stripper, which, in turn, is operably connected to

(iii) a dissociation-purification column,

wherein at least a portion of one or more of the absorber, the stripper, or the dissociation-purification column is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight;

(b) conveying an industrial process stream comprising ammonia to the apparatus; and

(c) refining the industrial process stream comprising ammonia in the apparatus provided to produce a concentrated ammonia product stream.

44. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 43 wherein the material of construction comprises low nickel content overlay material.

45. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 44 wherein the low nickel content overlay material is glass, epoxy, elastomer, fluoropolymer, or low nickel content metal.

46. The improved process for the recovery of ammonia according to claim 43 wherein the absorber contains a capture solution and wherein a fresh capture solution having a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm is fed to the absorber.

47. A purified ammonia product stream produced by the process of claim 43.

49. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 48 wherein at least a portion of one or more of the absorber, the stripper, or the dissociation-purification column is comprised of a material of construction having less than 20% nickel by weight and wherein the material of construction comprises low nickel content overlay material.

50. An improved ammonia recovery system according to claim 49 wherein the low nickel content overlay material is glass, epoxy, elastomer, fluoropolymer, or low nickel content metal.

51. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams according to claim 48 wherein the fresh capture solution is fed to the absorber.

52. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams according to claim 51 wherein the fresh capture solution is fed to the absorber in conjunction with a recycled stream of capture solution.

48. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus containing a capture solution for recovering ammonia comprising;

(i) an absorber, operably connected to

(ii) a stripper, which, in turn, is operably connected to

(iii) a dissociation-purification column,

(b) adding a fresh capture solution having a nickel concentration of less than 250 ppm to the apparatus;

(c) conveying an industrial process stream comprising ammonia to the apparatus; and

(d) refining the industrial process stream comprising ammonia in the apparatus provided to produce a concentrated ammonia product stream.

53. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from an industrial process stream comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus for the recovery of ammonia comprising;

(i) an ASD system containing a capture solution and

(ii) a purification column, operably connected thereto

(b) adding a fresh capture solution having a nickel concentration of less than about 250 ppm to the ASD system;

(c) conveying an industrial process stream containing ammonia to the apparatus; and

(d) refining the industrial process stream containing ammonia in the apparatus provided to produce a concentrated ammonia process stream.

54. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams according to claim 53 wherein the ASD system comprises an absorber, the fresh capture solution being fed to the absorber.

55. An improved process for the recovery of ammonia from industrial process streams according to claim 53 wherein the fresh capture solution is fed to the absorber in conjunction with a recycled stream of capture solution.