Method and installation for dehydration by means of a deliquescent product
Dehydration method for a liquid or gaseous effluent selected from LPG, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, solvents and natural gases, by inserting the liquid or gaseous effluent against gravity through a drying column having a drying bed with an initial height (H+h) constituted in its lower area by an inert material bed having the height of h and in its upper area by deliquescent desiccants having an initial height of H. The deliquescent desiccants have an initial weight of between 3 and 40 g, the h/H ratio is lower than 0.49, and the inert material has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/m3 and lower than 800 m2/m3. The method further includes separating water obtained from the liquid or gaseous effluent.
1. Dehydration method for a liquid or gaseous effluent selected from the group consisting of LPG, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, solvents and natural gases, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting the liquid or gaseous effluent against gravity through a drying column comprising a drying bed having an initial height (H+h) constituted in its lower area by an inert material bed having the height of h and in its upper area by deliquescent desiccants having an initial height of H, the deliquescent desiccants having an initial weight of between 3 and 40 g, wherein the h/H ratio is lower than 0.49; and the inert material has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/m3 and lower than 800 m2/m3; and
separating water from the liquid or gaseous effluent.
2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the inert material are spherical beads having a diameter between 5 and 30 mm.
3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the inert material has a specific surface area greater than 150 m2/m3 and lower than 800 m2/m3.
4. Method according to claim 1 wherein the inert material has a specific surface area lower than 650 m2/m3 and greater than 100 m2/m3.
5. Method according to claim 1 wherein the inert material has a specific surface area are between 250 and 650 m2/m3.
6. Method according to claim 1 wherein the h/H ratio is equal to or lower than the values indicated in Table below based on the specific surface area of the inert material.
Diameter
Diameter
A inert
Inert (inches)
Inert (mm)
m2/m3
h/H
variation
bead ⅛″
3.2
1102
0.061
in the
bead ¼″
6.4
551
0.122
inert
bead ⅜″
9.5
367
0.183
materials
bead ½″
12.7
276
0.244
bead ¾″
19.1
184
0.366
bead 1″
25.4
138
0.488
Saddle ½″
620
0.109
Saddle ¾″
330
0.204
Saddle 1″
260
0.259.
7. Method according to claim 1 wherein the h/H ratio is equal to or greater than the values indicated in the table below based on the specific surface area of the inert material.
Diameter
Diameter
A inert
Inert (inches)
Inert (mm)
m2/m3
h/H
variation
bead ⅛″
3.2
1102
0.010
in the
bead ¼″
6.4
551
0.019
inert
bead ⅜″
9.5
367
0.029
materials
bead ½″
12.7
276
0.039
bead ¾″
19.1
184
0.058
bead 1″
25.4
138
0.078
Saddle ½″
620
0.017
Saddle ¾″
330
0.032
Saddle 1″
260
0.041.
8. Method according to claim 1 wherein the deliquescent desiccants are initially made of a mixture of at least two families of different weights.
9. Method according to claim 1 wherein the deliquescent desiccants are selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride (CaCl2), sodium (NaOH) and potassium (KOH).
10. Method according to claim 1 wherein the deliquescent desiccants have an initial oblong form.
11. Method according to claim 1 wherein the solvents are selected from the group consisting of THF, DCM and TEA, and the natural gases are selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and LNG.
12. Method according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the families is made up of desiccants having a weight that is at least 30% lower than the weight of the other family.
13. Method according to claim 10 wherein the deliquescent desiccants are in the form of a cushion.
14. Method according to claim 1 wherein the effluent is selected from the group consisting of diesel and kerosene.