Separation methods and systems for oxidative coupling of methane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017107162-A1
Application number	US-201615272205-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Oct 16, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for generating higher hydrocarbon(s) from a stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ ), comprising introducing methane and an oxidant (e.g., O 2 ) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor. The OCM reactor reacts the methane with the oxidant to generate a first product stream comprising the C 2+ compounds. The first product stream can then be directed to a separations unit that recovers at least a portion of the C 2+ compounds from the first product stream to yield a second product stream comprising the at least the portion of the C 2+ compounds.

First claim

1 . A method for generating compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), comprising:
(a) directing oxygen (O 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor that reacts said O 2 and CH 4 in an OCM process to yield a product stream comprising (i) C 2+ compounds including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) and (ii) carbon dioxide (CO 2 ); and
(b) directing said product stream from said OCM reactor into a separations unit that employs a CO 2 separation unit to separate said CO 2 from said product stream and enrich said C 2+ compounds in said product stream, which CO 2 separation unit employs (i) sorbent or solvent separation of CO 2 , (ii) membrane separation of CO 2 , (iii) cryogenic or low temperature separation of CO 2 having an operating temperature greater than a boiling point of methane and less than a boiling point of CO 2 , (iv) metal-organic framework-based separation, or (v) antisublimation separation of CO 2 .

2 . (canceled)

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said sorbent or solvent separation of CO 2 employs an amine based absorption unit.

4 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing said CO 2 from said product stream to a methanation reactor that reacts said CO 2 to yield a methanation product stream comprising methane.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating said product stream into (i) an ethylene product stream comprising ethylene and (ii) a C 3+ product stream comprising compounds with three or more carbon atoms (C 3+ compounds).

23 .- 56 . (canceled)

57 . A method for generating compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), comprising:
(a) directing oxygen (O 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor that reacts said O 2 and CH 4 in an OCM process to yield a product stream comprising (i) C 2+ compounds including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) and (ii) C 1 compounds including un-reacted CH 4 ; and
(b) directing said product stream into a separations unit containing a metal organic framework (MOF) that produces (i) a bottoms stream comprising said C 2+ compounds and (ii) an overhead stream comprising said C 1 compounds.

58 . The method of claim 57 , further comprising:
(c) directing said overhead stream to a methanation unit for converting carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and/or carbon monoxide (CO) into methane (CH 4 ); and (d) directing said CH 4 into said OCM reactor.

59 . The method of claim 57 , further comprising:
(e) directing said bottoms stream to a second separations unit containing a metal organic framework (MOF) that separates olefins from paraffins.

60 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the separations unit comprises a pressure swing absorber (PSA) that contains the MOF.

61 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the separations unit comprises a temperature swing absorber (TSA) that contains the MOF.

62 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the C 1 compounds include hydrogen (H 2 ).

63 . A method for generating compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), comprising:
(a) directing oxygen (O 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor having a catalytic section and a cracking section to produce an OCM product stream, which catalytic section reacts said O 2 and CH 4 to yield ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and heat, which cracking section uses said heat to convert C 2 H 6 into C 2 H 4 , and which product stream comprises (i) C 2+ compounds including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) and ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and (ii) C 1 compounds including un-reacted CH 4 ;
(b) directing said product stream into a separations unit containing a metal organic framework (MOF) that produces (i) a first stream comprising said C 2 H 4 , (ii) a second stream comprising said C 2 H 6 and (iii) a third stream comprising said C 1 compounds;
(c) directing said second stream into said cracking section; and
(d) directing said third stream into said catalytic section.

64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein said third stream is directed to a methanation unit prior to directing to said catalytic section, which methanation unit converts carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and/or carbon monoxide (CO) into methane (CH 4 ).

65 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the separations unit comprises a pressure swing absorber (PSA) that contains the MOF.

66 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the separations unit comprises a temperature swing absorber (TSA) that contains the MOF.

67 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the C 1 compounds include hydrogen (H 2 ).

68 .- 129 . (canceled)

130 . A system for generating compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), comprising:
an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor configured to receive oxygen (O 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) and react said O 2 and CH 4 to produce an OCM product stream, said OCM reactor having a catalytic section and a cracking section, which catalytic section reacts said O 2 and CH 4 to yield ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and heat, which cracking section uses said heat to convert C 2 H 6 into C 2 H 4 , and which product stream comprises (i) C 2+ compounds including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) and ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and (ii) C 1 compounds including un-reacted CH 4 ; and
a separations unit fluidically coupled to said OCM reactor and configured to receive said product stream from said OCM reactor, wherein said separations unit contains a metal organic framework (MOF) that produces (i) a first stream comprising said C 2 H 4 , (ii) a second stream comprising said C 2 H 6 and (iii) a third stream comprising said C 1 compounds, and wherein said second stream and said third stream are directed into said cracking section and said catalytic section respectively.

131 . The system of claim 130 , wherein said third stream is directed to a methanation unit prior to directing to said catalytic section, which methanation unit converts carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and/or carbon monoxide (CO) into methane (CH 4 ).

132 . The system of claim 130 , wherein the separations unit comprises a pressure swing absorber (PSA) that contains the MOF.

133 . The system of claim 130 , wherein the separations unit comprises a temperature swing absorber (TSA) that contains the MOF.

134 . The system of claim 130 , wherein the C 1 compounds include hydrogen (H 2 ).

Assignees

• Siluria Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Duggal Suchia
• Radaelli Guido
• Mccormick Jarod
• Aronson Andrew
• Cizeron Joel
• Jonnavittula Divya

Classifications

• B01D2253/116

  Molecular sieves other than zeolites · CPC title

• B01D2253/108

  Zeolites · CPC title

• B01D2253/1122

  Metals · CPC title

• B01D2253/106

  Silica or silicates · CPC title

• B01D53/1487

  Removing organic compounds · CPC title