Patent ID: 6989046
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A method for removing polymer from an acid gas treating system comprising: (a) contacting an acid gas containing stream with an aqueous alkanolamine solution and hydrocarbon solvent to form a mixture of an alkanolamine rich solution having the acid gases or byproducts thereof contained therein and the hydrocarbon solvent, where the hydrocarbon solvent has 60 to 100 volume % aromatic content, and 50 to 85 volume % two ring aromatic content, based on the total volume of the solvent; (b) separating the mixture from step (a) in a hydrocyclone to separate the hydrocarbon solvent from the alkanolamine rich solution having the acid gases or byproducts thereof; to produce an alkanolamine rich solution having the acid gases or byproducts thereof and hydrocarbon solvent entrained therein; (c) regenerating the alkanolamine rich solution having the acid gases or byproducts thereof and hydrocarbon solvent entrained therein in a regenerator to obtain a polymer rich hydrocarbon solvent and an alkanolamine lean solution substantially free of acid gases or byproducts thereof, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent entrained in the alkanolamine rich solution having the acid gases or byproducts thereof is sufficient to dissolve polymer formation in the regenerator.