Patent ID: 8425663
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A process for the extraction of a heavy hydrocarbon vapor from a gas comprising the steps of: introducing a volume of a crude-oil-based extraction fluid into said gas stream containing said heavy hydrocarbon vapor, said extraction fluid introduced into said gas stream by spraying said gas stream with an aerosol spray of said extraction fluid, to thereby form a stable aerosol comprising a plurality of droplets containing small extraction fluid droplets under 1 micron in diameter and being dispersed through said gas stream, said plurality of droplets being continuously attractable to said hydrocarbon vapor in said gas through an oleophilic interaction to form a plurality of aerosolized oil droplets in said gas stream; said plurality of aerosolized oil droplets forming a discontinuous liquid phase within a continuous gas phase, said discontinuous liquid phase having small aerosolized oil droplets in the 0.1 to 1 micron range; directing said gas stream containing said plurality of aerosolized oil droplets through a coalescer comprising a porous medium; capturing said plurality of aerosolized oil droplets by movement into said porous medium with fibers of dimensions similar to that of the plurality of aerosolized oil droplets created, at least one of the dimensions of said fibers in said porous media being in the 0.5 to 2 micron range, said porous medium having a specific surface area greater than 3,000 m2/m3, said porous medium being constructed without binders for maintaining structural integrity, and said fibers of said porous medium being wet out by said captured droplets to allow said captured aerosolized oil droplets to continue to interact with said small aerosolized oil drops in the fluid to further extract said small aerosolized oil drops onto said fibers, thereby growing said captured aerosolized oil droplets into a plurality of larger rich oil droplets containing said small aerosolized oil drops, and gravitationally separating said larger rich oil droplets from said gas by the time said gas reaches the outside of said porous medium, said extraction and removal of said hydrocarbon vapor being accomplished in a single stage.