Patent ID: 8586816
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A continuous process for the separation of components in a feedstream with an adsorption separation system, comprising: passing the feedstream of a hydrocarbon mixture of fluid components to an adsorbent bed through a first port, wherein at least one component is preferentially adsorbed by the adsorbent and where non-preferentially adsorbed components remain in the fluid phase, and where the adsorbent bed comprises a plurality of zones that are serially connected through fluid connections, wherein between each zone there is a port for admitting a fluid stream, or withdrawing a fluid stream; passing a desorbent stream comprising a desorbent into the adsorbent bed at a second port than the feedstream; withdrawing an extract stream at a third port comprising the preferentially adsorbed component; withdrawing a raffinate stream comprising the non-preferentially adsorbed components at a fourth port; wherein the admission or withdrawal of a stream through a port is directed through a channel in a rotary valve to a transfer line in fluid communication with a port; passing a flush stream recycled from the fractionation section of the adsorbent separation system to the upper head region and lower head region of the adsorbent separation system creating head flush inlet streams and head flush outlet streams; passing a flush stream recycled from the fractionation section of the adsorbent separation system through the rotary valve creating a dome sealant in let stream and a dome sealant outlet stream; passing a flush stream through the rotary into the adsorbent bed downstream of the extract stream to create a purification zoned wherein the purification zone is a zone between the feed stream and the extract stream; and passing the rotary valve flush stream through a fifth port; wherein the flush stream comprises at least a portion of one of the flush stream recycled through at least one of (i) the rotary valve dome sealant outlet stream; and (ii) one of the head flush outlet streams to flush out the upper and/or lower head region of the adsorption column and combined with the remaining portion of the flush recycled from the fractionation section of the adsorbent separation system.