Method for preventing fouling of a demister
A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.
1. A method for preventing fouling of a demister comprising:
providing a vessel, the vessel comprising the demister in an upper portion of the vessel, a gas inlet in a lower portion of the vessel, and a diverter section in a first middle portion of the vessel;
providing a process fluid into a second middle portion of the vessel;
providing a gas to the gas inlet, wherein the gas comprises a component that desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid;
passing the gas through the gas inlet into the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas, wherein the component-depleted gas passing out of the process fluid causes splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid; and,
providing the diverter section between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister;
whereby fouling of the demister is prevented.
2. The method of claim 1 , providing the physical obstruction, the physical obstruction allowing the component-depleted gas to pass upwards and the process fluid to pass downwards.
3. The method of claim 2 , providing the physical obstruction comprising a surface material inhibiting adsorption of gases, preventing deposition of solids, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 2 , providing the physical obstruction comprising one or more bars, rods, pipes, plates, angle iron, wires, tubes, hoses, spheroids, or combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 4 , arranging the one or more bars, rods, pipes, plates, angle iron, wires, tubes, hoses, spheroids, or combinations thereof in one or more levels.
6. The method of claim 5 , arranging the one or more bars, rods, pipes, plates, angle iron, wires, tubes, hoses, spheroids, or combinations thereof in a pattern that blocks any linear path between a surface of the process fluid and a surface of the demister.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing a heat exchange fluid to the pipes to melt a portion of the first solid that impinges upon the pipes, causing the first solid to slide off the pipes into the process fluid.
8. The method of claim 7 , providing the pipes at an acute angle below horizontal.
9. The method of claim 1 , providing the physical obstruction comprising an offset section of the vessel, wherein a middle portion of the vessel jogs to a side, causing the upper portion of the vessel to not be above the process fluid.
10. The method of claim 1 , providing the vessel comprising a direct-contact heat exchanger, direct-contact material exchanger, spray tower, reactor, combustor, distillation column, flash vessel, or tank.
11. The method of claim 1 , providing the gas inlet comprising a bubble plate, bubble tray, nozzle, sparger, or combinations thereof.
12. The method of claim 11 , providing the gas inlet further comprising a surface material inhibiting adsorption of gases, preventing deposition of solids, or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 1 , providing the demister comprising a knitted-mesh demister, a vane-type demister, a demisting cyclone, a coalescer, a fiber-bed mist eliminator, or combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 1 , providing the gas comprising flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, any hydrocarbon that has a lower freezing point than the temperature of the process fluid, light gases, refinery off-gases, or combinations thereof.
15. The method of claim 14 , providing the component comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, mercury, hydrocarbons with a freezing point above a temperature of the process fluid, or combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 1 , providing the process fluid comprising a cryogenic liquid.
17. The method of claim 16 , providing the cryogenic liquid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which the first solid forms from the gas.
18. The method of claim 17 , providing the cryogenic liquid further comprising 1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1-butene, 1-methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane, 1-pentene, 3,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene, 3-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 3-methylpentane, 3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methylpentane, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methylcyclopentene, 4-methyl-trans-2-pentene, bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromodifluoromethane, bromotrifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, cis 3-hexene, cis-1,3-pentadiene, cis-2-hexene, cis-2-pentene, dichlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethyl ether, trifluoromethyl ether, dimethyl ether, ethyl fluoride, ethyl mercaptan, hexafluoropropylene, isobutane, isobutene, isobutyl mercaptan, isopentane, isoprene, methyl isopropyl ether, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, methylcyclopropane, n,n-diethylmethylamine, octafluoropropane, pentafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether, propane, sec-butyl mercaptan, trans-2-pentene, trifluoromethyl trifluorovinyl ether, vinyl chloride, bromotrifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, dimethyl silane, ketene, methyl silane, perchloryl fluoride, propylene, vinyl fluoride, or combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 16 , providing the process fluid further comprising a second solid.
20. The method of claim 19 , providing the second solid comprising particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof.