Apparatus and method for superheated vapor contacting and vaporization of feedstocks containing high boiling point and unvaporizable foulants in an olefins furnace
View Patent ↗A contactor/separator is formed from a vessel; an inlet for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture; an inlet for receiving a superheated vapor; a hub located within the vessel, the hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to the vapor/liquid mixture or the superheated vapor; an outlet in a bottom of the vessel for removing liquid; and an outlet for removing vapor from the vessel. A method is also provided for heating and separating liquid and vapor from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock into a contactor/separator: introducing a superheated vapor into the contactor/separator such that it contacts and vaporizes a portion of the feedstock within the contactor/separator; separating unvaporized feedstock from vaporized feedstock in the contactor/separator; removing the vaporized feedstock and the superheated vapor through a first outlet; and removing the unvaporized feedstock through a second outlet.
1. A contactor/separator comprising:
a vessel;
an inlet in said vessel for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture, said inlet further comprising a hold-up chamber;
a conical exit diffuser positioned below the hold-up chamber;
an inlet in said vessel for receiving a superheated vapor;
a hub located within said vessel, said hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to one of said vapor/liquid mixture or said superheated vapor;
an outlet in a bottom of said vessel for removing liquid; and
an outlet for removing vapor from said vessel.
2. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the superheated vapor is steam.
3. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet for receiving superheated vapor is located in a top of said vessel.
4. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the hub includes a trailing edge nose cone comprising a conical section at its lower end.
5. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the hold-up chamber comprises a portion of an interior surface of said vessel, a roof section and a ledge.
6. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second diffuser positioned within the conical exit diffuser.
7. A contactor/separator as defined in claim 1 wherein liquid in said vapor/liquid mixture completely wets the interior walls of said vessel below the inlet for receiving the vapor/liquid mixture.
8. A hydrocarbon cracker comprising:
a furnace; and
a contactor/separator comprising:
a vessel;
an inlet located in a side of said vessel for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture, said inlet further comprising a hold-up chamber;
a conical exit diffuser positioned below the hold-up chamber;
an inlet in said vessel for receiving superheated steam;
a hub located within said vessel, said hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to one of said vapor/liquid mixture or said superheated steam;
an outlet in a bottom of said vessel for removing liquid; and
an outlet for removing vapor from said vessel.
9. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 wherein the inlet for receiving superheated steam is located in a top of said vessel.
10. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 wherein the hub includes a trailing edge nose cone comprising a conical section at its lower end.
11. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 wherein the hold-up chamber comprises a portion of an interior surface of said vessel, a roof section and a ledge.
12. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 further comprising a second diffuser positioned within the conical exit diffuser.
13. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 wherein liquid in said vapor/liquid mixture completely wets the interior walls of said vessel below the inlet for receiving the vapor/liquid mixture.
14. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 comprising two or more contactor/separators.
15. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 8 further comprising a receiver for receiving liquid from the contactor/separator.
16. A hydrocarbon cracker comprising:
a furnace; and
a contactor/separator comprising:
a vessel;
an inlet located in a side of said vessel for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture;
an inlet in said vessel for receiving superheated steam;
a hub located within said vessel, said hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to one of said vapor/liquid mixture or said superheated steam;
an outlet in a bottom of said vessel for removing liquid;
an outlet for removing vapor from said vessel; and
a receiver for receiving liquid from the contactor/separator wherein the receiver comprises a vacuum jet ejector for reducing the pressure within the receiver.
17. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 16 wherein the receiver comprises a heat exchanger for cooling the liquid.
18. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises a recirculation loop for returning cooled liquid to the receiver and wetting upper walls of the receiver.
19. A hydrocarbon cracker as defined in claim 16 wherein the receiver comprises an upper section with a steam injector in the upper section of the receiver to form a barrier between the contactor/separator and liquid in the receiver.