Method and apparatus for removal of oil from utility gas stream

• US 9,126,138 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Deckman, Harry W., Kamakoti, Preeti, Ravikovitch, Peter I., Kelley, Bruce T., Northrop, Paul Scott, Rasmussen, Peter C., Tanaka, Paul Lawrence, Webster, Martin N., Roth, Wieslaw Jerzy, Corcoran, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKENZIE, THOMAS B
• Application Number:
  US12/921,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,365 Days
• Field of Search: 95 95-106, 95141-148, 95/45, 96/4, 96121-122, 96126-128, 961/30, 96141-146, 96152-153, 203/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/104 Alumina
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/1085 characterized by a silicon-aluminium ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/1124 Metal oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/20 Organic adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/204 Metal organic frameworks (MOF's)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/342 Monoliths
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/70 Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40088 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0438 Cooling or heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0473 Rapid pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0476 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/124 with special means for adducting cooling or sealing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

The present application is directed to a method and system for preparing gaseous utility streams from gaseous process streams, particularly, removing oil contamination from such streams prior to use in a dry gas seal. The methods and systems may include at least one kinetic swing adsorption process including pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, calcination, and inert purge processes to treat gaseous streams for use in dry gas seals of rotating equipment such as compressors, turbines and pumps and other utilities. The adsorbent materials used include a high surface area solid structured microporous and mesoporous materials.

Claims

1. A method of treating a gaseous feed stream, comprising:

providing a gaseous feed stream having a volume of oil therein;

treating a portion of the gaseous feed stream using a selective component removal system having at least one swing adsorption process unit to form a utility stream for use in a utility component, wherein the at least one swing adsorption unit includes a structured adsorbent bed comprising a high surface area solid and configured to remove at least a portion of the volume of oil and the portion of the gaseous feed stream is at a pressure from at least about 100 bar to at least about 500 bar;

regenerating the swing adsorption process unit in a calcination process;

feeding the utility stream into the utility component, wherein the utility stream is compatible with the utility component and wherein the utility stream is a dry seal gas; and

utilizing the utility stream in the utility component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream contains at least one hydrocarbon component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream is a compressor discharge stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream is a pressurized process stream.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream is at a pressure above the critical point of the gaseous feed stream.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the gaseous feed stream is at a pressure of from at least about 200 bar to at least about 320 bar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility component is selected from the group consisting of a compressor, a compressor string, a turbo-expander compressor, a turbo-expander generator, a pump, a fired steam boiler, a fired process heater, a gas engine, a hermetically sealed direct-drive electric motor, turbomachinery equipped with magnetic bearings, and a gas turbine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first utility stream is utilized as a dry seal gas for at least one of a dry gas seal, a labyrinth seal, and a mechanical seal in the utility component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one swing adsorption process unit is selected from the group of units consisting of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit, a thermal swing adsorption (TSA) unit, a partial pressure swing or displacement purge adsorption (PPSA) unit, a rapid cycle thermal swing adsorption (RCTSA) unit, a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) unit, a rapid cycle partial pressure swing or displacement purge adsorption (RCPPSA) unit, a compact PSA, a compact TSA, a compact PPSA, and any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selective component removal system (SCRS) further comprises at least one of an absorption unit, a membrane separation unit, a molecular sieve, a distillation tower, and a glycol contactor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream comprises from about 60 mol % to about 90 mol % methane.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous feed stream is a sour process gas stream and the portion of the gaseous feed stream is a slip stream from the sour process gas stream.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the utilizing the utility stream in the utility component reduces condensation across a seal face of the utility component.