Hydrocarbon processing apparatuses and processes for producing n-pentane and isobutane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185688-A1
Application number	US-201414586409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Hydrocarbon processing apparatuses and processes for producing n-pentane and isobutane are provided herein. In an embodiment, a process for producing n-pentane and isobutane includes providing a hydrocarbon feed stream that includes C4 and C5 hydrocarbons. A recycle stream that includes C4+ hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon feed stream is combined to produce a combined feed stream. The combined feed stream is separated to produce an iC4 product stream, an nC5+ product stream, and an iC5/nC4 feed stream. The iC5/nC4 feed stream is simultaneously disproportionated and isomerized in an isomerization zone to produce an intermediate stream that includes C3-C6 hydrocarbons. The C3-C6 hydrocarbons in the intermediate stream are separated to produce a C3− stream and the recycle stream that includes C4+ hydrocarbons.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for producing n-pentane and isobutane, wherein the process comprises:
providing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising C4 and C5 hydrocarbons; combining a recycle stream comprising C4+ hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon feed stream to produce a combined feed stream; separating the combined feed stream to produce an iC4 product stream, an nC5 30 product stream, and an iC5/nC4 feed stream; simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream in an isomerization zone to produce an intermediate stream comprising C3-C6 hydrocarbons; and separating the C3-C6 hydrocarbons in the intermediate stream to produce a C3− stream and the recycle stream comprising C4+ hydrocarbons.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprises simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream substantially in the absence of water.

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprises simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream in the presence of hydrogen and an isomerization catalyst comprising halogenated alumina.

4 . The process of claim 3 , further comprising maintaining a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio in the intermediate stream produced by simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprises simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream at a first set of operating variables comprising temperature, liquid hourly space velocity, and disproportionation inhibitor content of the iC5/nC4 feed stream to produce a first yield of n-pentane and isobutane.

6 . The process of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting one or more of the temperature, liquid hourly space velocity, or disproportionation inhibitor content of the iC5/nC4 feed stream from the first set of operating variables to produce a second yield of n-pentane and isobutane different from the first yield.

7 . The process of claim 6 , wherein adjusting the one or more of the temperature, liquid hourly space velocity, or cyclics content comprises increasing the liquid hourly space velocity and/or including disproportionation inhibitor in the iC5/nC4 feed stream to reduce the isobutane content and increase n-pentane content in the second yield as compared to the first yield produced at the first set of operating variables.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprises simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprising a disproportionation inhibitor.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the disproportionation inhibitor consists of cyclic and/or paraffin hydrocarbons chosen from cyclopentane, methylcyclopentane, cyclohexane, benzene, C7+ paraffins, C7+ cyclic hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof, and wherein simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprises simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream comprising the disproportionation inhibitor.

10 . The process of claim 8 , further comprising combining the disproportionation inhibitor and the iC5/nC4 feed stream after producing the iC5/nC4 feed stream.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein providing the hydrocarbon feed stream comprises providing a hydrotreated naphtha stream comprising C4 and C5 hydrocarbons.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein separating the combined feed stream comprises fractionating the combined feed stream to produce the iC4 product stream, the nC5+ product stream, and the iC5/nC4 feed stream.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein separating the combined feed stream comprises separating the combined feed stream after combining the recycle stream and the hydrocarbon feed stream in the absence of intermediate reaction stages.

14 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising providing the nC5+ product stream to a gasoline blending stage.

15 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising providing the iC4 product stream to an alkylation stage and/or a dehydrogenation stage.

16 . A process for isomerizing an iC5/nC4 feed stream, wherein the process comprises:
providing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising C4 and C5 hydrocarbons; combining a C4+ stream comprising isobutane and the hydrocarbon feed stream to produce a combined feed stream; removing n-butane and isopentane from the combined feed stream to produce the iC5/nC4 feed stream, wherein the n-butane and isopentane are removed from the combined feed stream after combining the C4+ stream and the hydrocarbon feed stream in the absence of an intermediate reaction of components in the combined feed stream prior to removing the n-butane and isopentane therefrom; and simultaneously disproportionating and isomerizing the iC5/nC4 feed stream to produce an intermediate stream comprising C3-C6 hydrocarbons.

17 . A hydrocarbon processing apparatus comprising:
a first fractionation column having the capacity to receive a combined feed stream comprising C4+ hydrocarbons and to separate the combined feed stream into an iC4 product stream, an nC5+ product stream, and an iC5/nC4 feed stream; an isomerization zone in fluid communication with the first fractionation column for receiving the iC5/nC4 feed stream, wherein the isomerization zone has the capacity to isomerize and disproportionate the iC5/nC4 feed stream in the presence of an isomerization catalyst to produce an intermediate stream comprising C3-C6 hydrocarbons; and a second fractionation column in fluid communication with the isomerization zone for receiving the intermediate stream, wherein the second fractionation column has the capacity to separate the intermediate stream into a C3− stream and a recycle stream comprising C4+ hydrocarbons.

18 . The hydrocarbon processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second fractionation column is in fluid communication with the first fractionation column to provide the recycle stream to the first fractionation column as a portion of the combined feed stream.

19 . The hydrocarbon processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first fractionation column is further in fluid communication with a gasoline blending stage for providing the nC5+ product stream to the gasoline blending stage.

20 . The hydrocarbon processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first fractionation column is further in fluid communication with an alkylation stage and/or a dehydrogenation stage for providing the iC4 product stream to the alkylation stage and/or the dehydrogenation stage.

Assignees

• Uop Llc

Inventors

• Lapinski Mark Paul
• Lowry David
• Lippmann Matthew
• Shecterle David James

Classifications

• C07C2523/42

  Platinum · CPC title

• B01J2219/00006

  Large-scale industrial plants · CPC title

• C07C2521/04

  Alumina · CPC title

• C07C6/10

  in hydrocarbons containing no six-membered aromatic rings · CPC title

• C07C5/2791 Primary

  with metals · CPC title