Process and system for heating or cooling streams for a divided distillation column

• US 8,999,117 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Michael A., Zhu, Xin X., Qafisheh, Jibreel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boyer, Randy
• Application Number:
  US12/398,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20100224536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 202/159, 202/161, 202/270
• US Class Current: 202/161
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/14 Fractional distillation or use of a fractionation or rectification column
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/141 where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment can be a system for separating a plurality of naphtha components. The system can include a column, an overhead condenser, and a side condenser. Generally, the column includes a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing at least one side stream. Typically, the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections. Typically, the overhead condenser receives an overhead stream including a light naphtha from the column. Usually, a side condenser receives a process stream from the column and returns the stream to the column to facilitate separation. A cooling stream may pass through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.

Claims

1. A system for separating a plurality of naphtha components, comprising:

a column, comprising;

a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing at least one side stream wherein the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections;

an overhead condenser receiving an overhead stream from the column; and

a side condenser receiving a process stream from a side draw from the column at a point above the at least one side stream and the dividing imperforate wall and returning the stream to the column to facilitate separation;

wherein a cooling stream passes through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the column further comprising:

a reboiler receiving at least a portion of a bottom stream and returning that portion to the column; and

a side reboiler receiving another process stream from the column and returning the another process stream to the column.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a heating stream passing through the reboiler and then the side reboiler.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side stream comprises a first side stream comprising a medium naphtha and a second side stream comprising an aromatic naphtha.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the bottom stream comprises a heavy naphtha.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling stream comprises cooling water.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the heating stream comprises high pressure steam.

8. A system for separating a plurality of naphtha components, comprising:

a first column, comprising;

a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing a side stream wherein the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections;

a reboiler; and

a side reboiler receiving a process stream from a side draw from the column at a point below the side stream and below the dividing imperforate wall;

wherein a heating stream passes through the reboiler and the side reboiler.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the heating stream comprises a light cycle oil.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the first column further comprises an overhead condenser and a side condenser wherein a cooling stream passes through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the cooling stream comprises cooling water.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first column provides an overhead stream comprising a light naphtha.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first column provides a side stream comprising a medium naphtha.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a second column communicating with the first column so as to provide a feed to or receive a feed from the first column wherein the second column is non-divided and provides an overhead stream comprising an aromatic naphtha.

15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a second column communicating with the first column so as to provide a feed to or receive a feed from the first column wherein the second column is non-divided and provides a bottom stream comprising a heavy naphtha.

16. A system for separating a plurality of naphtha components, comprising:

a first column, comprising;

a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing a side stream wherein the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections;

an overhead condenser receiving an overhead stream from the column;

a side condenser receiving a process stream from a first side draw from the column at a point above the side stream and returning the stream to the column to facilitate separation;

a reboiler; and

a side reboiler receiving a process stream from a second side draw from the column at a point below the side stream and returning the stream to the column to facilitate separation;

wherein the first side draw is above the second side draw.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein a heating stream passes through the reboiler and the side reboiler.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first column further comprises an overhead condenser and a side condenser wherein a cooling stream passes through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the cooling stream comprises cooling water.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first column provides an overhead stream comprising a light naphtha.