Apparatus and process for treating a hydrocarbon stream
One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon stream having one or more compounds with a boiling point of about 140° to about 450° C. The apparatus can include an extraction zone and a regeneration zone. The extraction zone can include at least one settler. Each settler can have a height and a length. Typically the length is greater than the height. Also, the settler can form a boot, which can be adapted to receive a feed at one end. The regeneration zone may include a regenerator for an ionic liquid. The regenerator can include a column adapted to provide a regenerated ionic liquid to the extraction zone.
1. A process for regenerating an ionic liquid comprising passing an ionic liquid through heat exchangers to a column comprising a demister and a reboiler wherein the reboiler is operated at a temperature effective for regenerating the ionic liquid to a water content effective for removing one or more nitrogen compounds from a hydrocarbon stream wherein an overhead column stream comprising spent water and hydrocarbon slop oil is sent to a receiver and wherein said overhead column stream receives a neutralization additive to provide pH control and prevent corrosion.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the column is adapted to receive a stream comprising an effective amount of steam to strip nitrogen from the ionic liquid.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the steam is superheated steam.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the steam and the ionic liquid to be regenerated flow counter-current in the column.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the column is operated at a temperature effective to have no more than 3%, by weight, water in the bottom stream based on the total weight of the water and regenerated ionic liquid.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is at least about 175° C.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the demister is a mesh demister.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reboiler is a thermosyphon reboiler.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the spent water and hydrocarbon slop oil in the receiver are separated via a partition or weir.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon slop oil is sent to fuel oil or diesel product blending.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the regenerated ionic liquid from the bottom of the column is supplemented with fresh ionic liquid.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the regenerated ionic liquid is pumped through a heat exchanger for heat recovery.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the regenerated ionic liquid temperature is about 60° to about 130° C.