Systems and processes for turboquenching
Systems and processes for quenching a high-temperature, above atmospheric pressure feed to a lower temperature without the need of any quenching fluid and with the additional benefit of coproducing electric power. The systems and processes provided here result in a simpler quenching process, which is particularly beneficial for quenching streams after high-temperature chemical reactions.
1. A process for quenching a high-temperature and above atmospheric pressure stream to a lower temperature without the need of a quenching fluid, comprising:
providing an outlet stream from a high temperature conversion reaction selected from the group consisting of steam cracking, catalytic cracking, and pyrolysis, wherein the outlet stream has a temperature of 500° C. or above and a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
directly expanding the outlet stream in a turboexpander to generate work and provide a quenched stream, wherein the quenching occurs without any intermediate heat exchange step; and
recovering the work generated by the turboexpander to produce electric power.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a feed stream to the high temperature conversion reaction comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, and natural gas liquids (NGLs).
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the high temperature conversion reaction is steam cracking for producing ethylene.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the feed stream to the high temperature conversion reaction comprises methane.
5. The process of claim 3 , wherein the feed stream to the high temperature conversion reaction comprises shale gas.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the high temperature conversion reaction produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the outlet stream from the high temperature conversion reaction is above 750° C. and wherein the pressure of the outlet stream from the high temperature conversion reaction is above 2 bars.
8. The process of claim 1 , further comprising oligomerizing one or more olefins within the quenched stream.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electric power is used to operate a motor coupled to a compressor.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the turboexpander is mechanically coupled to an electric generator to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the high temperature conversion reaction is steam cracking.
12. A process for quenching a high-temperature and above atmospheric pressure stream to a lower temperature without the need of a quenching fluid, comprising:
providing an outlet stream from a high temperature conversion reaction selected from the group consisting of steam cracking, catalytic cracking, and pyrolysis, wherein the outlet stream has a temperature of 500° C. or above and a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
directly expanding the outlet stream in a turboexpander to generate work and provide a quenched stream, wherein the quenching occurs without any intermediate heat exchange step;
recovering the work generated by the turboexpander to provide electrical power; and
powering a compressor to compress the quenched stream using the provided electrical power.
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein a feed stream to the high temperature conversion reaction comprises a mixture of natural gas liquids.
14. The process of claim 12 , wherein the high temperature conversion reaction is steam cracking for producing ethylene.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the feed stream to the high temperature conversion reaction comprises methane, shale gas, or mixtures thereof.
16. The process of claim 12 , wherein the high temperature conversion reaction produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
17. The process of claim 12 , wherein the temperature of the outlet stream from the high temperature conversion reaction is above 750° C. and the pressure of the outlet stream from the high temperature conversion reaction is above 2 bars.
18. The process of claim 12 , wherein the outlet stream is expanded within a turboexpander that is directly coupled to one or more compressors.
19. A process for upgrading natural gas liquids (NGL), comprising:
providing a natural gas comprising methane and one or more C 2+ hydrocarbons;
dehydrogenating at least a portion of the one or more C 2+ hydrocarbons to provide an outlet stream comprising one or more C 2+ olefinic hydrocarbons at a temperature of 550° C. to 950° C. and a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
directly expanding the outlet stream in a turboexpander to generate work and provide a quenched stream comprising the one or more C 2+ olefinic hydrocarbons at a temperature lower than the inlet temperature, wherein the expansion occurs without any intermediate heat exchange;
recovering the work generated by the turboexpander by coupling the turboexpander with an electric generator to provide electrical power;
compressing the quenched stream using a compressor driven by the provided electrical power; and
oligomerizing the compressed stream to provide a product stream comprising one or more C4 to C26 oligomers.
20. The process of claim 19 , wherein the outlet stream comprising the one or more C 2+ olefinic hydrocarbons is quenched without the use of a quenching fluid and the outlet stream is provided from any one or more thermal crackers, catalyst crackers, steam methane reformers, or other dehydrogenation units.