Configurations and methods for removal of mercaptans from feed gases
First Claim
1. A gas treatment plant comprising:
- a COS hydrolysis unit configured to hydrolyze COS in a mercaptan-containing feed gas to form a treated feed gas;
an absorber fluidly coupled to the COS hydrolysis unit and further fluidly coupled to a first and a second conduit that are configured to provide a first and a second lean hydrocarbon fluid to the absorber;
wherein the absorber is configured to allow contacting of the treated feed gas with the first and a second lean hydrocarbon fluid to thereby produce a mercaptan enriched hydrocarbon fluid and a desulfurized product gas;
a distillation column coupled to the absorber and configured to receive the mercaptan enriched hydrocarbon fluid and further configured to produce a light overhead vapor and a sulfur rich bottom product; and
a hydrocarbon processing unit comprising a hydrotreater, wherein the hydrocarbon processing unit is fluidly coupled to the distillation column and configured to receive the sulfur rich bottom product and to produce a sulfur-containing product and at least one of the first and second lean hydrocarbon fluid.
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Abstract
Contemplated configurations and methods employ COS hydrolysis and a downstream H2S removal unit to produce a treated feed gas that is then further desulfurized in an absorber using two lean oil fluids. The so produced mercaptan enriched hydrocarbon fluid is fed to a distillation column that produces a light overhead vapor that is preferably combined with the treated feed gas and a sulfur rich bottom product that is in most cases preferably directly fed to a hydrocarbon processing unit comprising a hydrotreater. In further especially preferred aspects, the hydrocarbon processing unit produces at least one and more typically both of the two lean oil fluids, and the treated gas is optionally further processed to produce clean fuel gas in a hydrotreater for olefinic saturation and sulfur conversion using a lean oil recycle for reactor temperature control.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gas treatment plant comprising:
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a COS hydrolysis unit configured to hydrolyze COS in a mercaptan-containing feed gas to form a treated feed gas; an absorber fluidly coupled to the COS hydrolysis unit and further fluidly coupled to a first and a second conduit that are configured to provide a first and a second lean hydrocarbon fluid to the absorber; wherein the absorber is configured to allow contacting of the treated feed gas with the first and a second lean hydrocarbon fluid to thereby produce a mercaptan enriched hydrocarbon fluid and a desulfurized product gas; a distillation column coupled to the absorber and configured to receive the mercaptan enriched hydrocarbon fluid and further configured to produce a light overhead vapor and a sulfur rich bottom product; and a hydrocarbon processing unit comprising a hydrotreater, wherein the hydrocarbon processing unit is fluidly coupled to the distillation column and configured to receive the sulfur rich bottom product and to produce a sulfur-containing product and at least one of the first and second lean hydrocarbon fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of removing sulfur compounds from a feed gas, comprising:
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hydrolyzing COS in a sulfur and mercaptan-containing feed gas to form a treated feed gas; absorbing sulfur species from the treated feed gas in an absorber using a first and a second lean hydrocarbon fluid to thereby produce a mercaptan enriched fluid and a desulfurized product gas; separating the mercaptan enriched fluid in a distillation column to produce a light overhead vapor and a sulfur rich bottom product; and processing the sulfur rich bottom product in a hydrocarbon processing unit that has a hydrotreater to produce a sulfur-containing product and at least one of the first and second lean hydrocarbon fluid. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification