Process for reclaiming and/or concentrating waste aqueous solutions of gas treating chemicals
US5389208A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S203/90
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Process for reclaiming or concentrating waste aqueous solutions of gas treating chemicals, such as alkanolamines, used for removing acid components or water vapor from natural gas. The process involves heating the waste solution under a high vacuum to form a vapor and a liquid residue. The temperature and vacuum can be varied to form a vapor consisting mainly of water vapor or a vapor containing both water vapor and vaporized gas treating chemical. The vapor is subsequently condensed or passed through a wash column to produce a concentrated solution. The liquid residue is heated by passing it through a single-pass, generally co-current heater at a rate which avoids localized overheating of a liquid to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the gas treating chemical. The heated liquid residue is then used to heat the feed waste solution by being thoroughly mixed with it, thus avoiding overheating of the feed solution. The production of corrosive elements and the use of prolonged residence times is avoided so that the apparatus may be made of carbon steel rather than more expensive stainless steel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.