Patent GB-758596-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to removal of acetylene components from gas
IPC: B01D53/14
Filed: 1954-03-19
Abstract: <PICT:0758596/IV(a)/1> Acetylene is separated from a gas mixture by contacting the mixture under pressure with a volatile solvent in absorber 2; the gas leaving the absorber is cooled by expansion so as to condense solvent carried out with the gas, and this solvent is separated at 8 and returned to the absorber; solvent from absorber 2 containing the acetylene is passed through line 10 to stripper 12 from which acetylene is withdrawn at 16 and treated to remove solvent; solvent from the stripper 12 is circulated back to the absorber. Solvent may be removed from the gas in line 16 by passage through one of the adsorbent chambers 22, 24 which are used alternately, solvent being recovered from the other chamber by means of the original gas mixture which enters at 28; suitable solid adsorbents are activated carbon, silica gel, charcoal, alumina gel, and diatomaceous earth.  Stripper 12 is heated by coil 14, and solvent from the stripper is cooled by passing through a coil in absorber 2, through coolers 44, 46, and finally by heat exchange at 48 with gas from separator 8.  In modifications, Figs. 2 and 3 (not shown), the expanded gas from absorber 2 is used to cool the feed gas or the overhead gas from stripper 12.  The gas from absorber 2 may be expanded in a turbo-expander or reciprocating machine, the expansion ratio being, for example, in the range 8 : 1 to 4 : 1. The temperature in the absorber may be from - 20 DEG  F. up to the boiling point of the solvent, and the pressure from 60-200 lbs. per square inch absolute.  The stripper operates at the boiling point of the solvent and at a pressure below 30 lbs. per square inch absolute. Acetylene derivatives of higher molecular weight may be separated by providing an additional tower after the stripper 12, and ethylene and carbon dioxide by means of a tower before the stripper.  Suitable solvents are acetone, acetaldehyde, ethyl alcohol, diethyl carbonate, and methyl ethyl ketone.  The original gas mixture may be obtained by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons, cracking of hydrocarbons, e.g. in the electric arc, or from distillation, adsorption, or hypersorption processes; mixtures of acetylene and butadiene may also be separated.ALSO:<PICT:0758596/III/1> Acetylene is separated from a gas mixture by contacting the mixture under pressure with a volatile solvent in absorber 2; the gas leaving the absorber is cooled by expansion so as to condense solvent carried out with the gas, and this solvent is separated at 8 and returned to the absorber; solvent from absorber 2 containing the acetylene is passed through line 10 to stripper 12 from which acetylene is withdrawn at 16 and treated to remove solvent; solvent from the stripper 12 is circulated back to the absorber.  Solvent may be removed from the gas in line 16 by passage through one of the absorbent chambers 22, 24 which are used alternately, solvent being recovered from the other chamber by means of the original gas mixture which enters at 28; suitable solid adsorbents are activated carbon, silica gel, charcoal, alumina gel, and diatomaceous earth.  Stripper 12 is heated by coil 14, and solvent from the stripper is cooled by passing through a coil in absorber 2, through coolers 44, 46, and finally by heat exchange at 48 with gas from separator 8.  In modifications, Figs. 2 and 3 (not shown), the expanded gas from absorber 2 is used to cool the feed gas or the overhead gas from stripper 12.  The gas from absorber 2 may be expanded in a turbo-expander or reciprocating machine, the expansion ratio being, for example, in the range 8:1 to 4:1.  The temperature in the absorber may be from -20 DEG F. up to the boiling point of the solvent, and the pressure from 60-200 lbs. per sq. in. absolute. The stripper operates at the boiling point of the solvent and at a pressure below 30 lbs. per sq. in. absolute.  Acetylene derivatives of higher molecular weight may be separated by providing an additional tower after the stripper 12, and ethylene and carbon dioxide by means of a tower before the stripper. Suitable solvents are acetone, acetaldehyde, ethyl alcohol, diethyl carbonate, and methyl ethyl ketone.  The original gas mixture may be obtained by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons, cracking of hydrocarbons, e.g. in the electric arc, or from distillation, adsorption, or hypersorption processes; mixtures of acetylene and butadiene may also be separated.