Process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from air-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures

Radioactive fluid handling system

Gas handling systems for radioactive gases

A process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapour mixture. The air-hydrocarbon vapour mixture is caused to flow through a first bed (12, 14) of solid adsorbent, whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream by substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to atmosphere and a second bed (14, 12) of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is desorbed by applying vaccum thereto using a liquid seal vacuum pump (72). The flow pattern is cyclically changed, so that air-hydrocarbon vapour mixture is fed through a bed of solid adsorbent which has just been regenerated. Use of a vacuum pump (72) ensures that a major portion of the hydrocarbons is desorbed. Subsequently feeding a small quantity of heated hydrocarbon-free air into the beds (at 66) causes additional hydrocarbons to be stripped therefrom. The air-hydrocarbon vapour mixture produced in the regeneration of the beds is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered. The feed of the liquid absorbent is divided into two first and second streams, the first stream being heated by passing it in heat-exchange relation with the seal liquid of the vacuum pump which is thus cooled. The first stream is then fed to the absorber at a location below that at which the second relatively cool stream is fed. A liquid coolant is passed through heat transfer coils (21, 23) in the adsorber beds (12, 14) to prevent excessive heating thereof.

Process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from air-hydrocarbon vapour mixtures

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the treatment of gases with adsorbent solids and has particular reference to the selective removal of certain gases or vapours from a mixture of gases by passing the gases through adsorbent solids such as active charcoal or silica gel. During...

Pexton Stuart

Papers

Treatment of gases with adsorbent solids