Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Change, Inc.

Charles R Ferrin

William P Manning

Floyd L Prestridge

Richard J Ely

Paul Mail

This invention relates to a novel solvent, N-2-methoxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, that can be used in two ways. First, in the pure or undiluted form, it absorbs hydrogen sulfide and other sulfurous gases selectively and simultaneously dries the gas. Second, when mixed with an alkanolamine and water, it is a superior absorbent of mercaptans, sulfides, and disulfides, and removes acid gases. The chemical structure of N-2-methoxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone is shown below. ##STR1##

Physical solvent for gas sweetening

The electrodes between which AC and DC electrostatic fields are sustained in a liquid mixture are connected to ground potential through rectifiers arranged to maintain the strength of the DC electrostatic field as the dielectric strength of the liquid mixture decreases.

Circuit for maintaining the strength of an electrostatic field generated

The alkanolpyridines, as physical solvents, compare favorably, as a family, with sulfolane in their absorption of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans. The data show absorption differences of the alkanolpyridines diluted with water, as compared with the alkanolpyridines mixed with amine. Both sets of data indicate an absorption performance substantially equal to, or better than, the performance of sulfolane. The chemical structure of pyridine is shown below. This structure is shown with the understanding that the alkanolpyridines would have the propanol or carbinol radicals, which are also shown, or other alkanol radicals substituted at the 2, 3 or 4 position. ##STR1##

A high boiling organic liquid, including 1-formylpiperidine or an alkylated derivative, is continuously applied to absorb hydrogen sulfide and water from a gas mixture, and is subsequently regenerated with heat.

Process for simultaneous removal of hydrogen sulfide and water from a

A bed of granular media is supported in a vessel to process liquid flowed in through both the upper and lower faces of the bed and out of the bed at a location intermediate the upper and lower faces. A drain structure for the processed liquid is mounted at the location intermediate the two bed faces with the capacity to withdraw the quantity of liquid flowing into both of the bed faces. A closed circuit is provided to transfer residual material in the drain structure back to the inlet system of the bed after backwash of the bed. A holding vessel is connected to the vessel in which the media bed is supported to temporarily receive the media for service periods of the bed vessel.

Liquid processing media bed drain system

Method and means for separating emulsified and entrained oils from water, machine coolants, and substantially any other liquid comprising initially directing a flow stream into an inlet trap for removing relatively large particles from the flow stream, passing the flow stream through a centrifuge for removing substantially all of the entrained solids in the flow stream, moving the flow stream through a de-emulsifier for coalescing of the emulsified oil into droplets sufficiently large for processing in a separator and for filtering any remaining solids from the flow stream, providing a backwash action from the de-emulsifier for recycling of said finally removed solids through the centrifuge, passing the flow stream through a separator for separation of the oil from the other liquid components of the flow stream whereby the separated oil and clean effluent may be removed from the system. The de-emulsifier comprises a chamber containing a bulk dense granular material, preferably water wettable, and the flow stream is directed into the chamber in a downflowing manner through the granular material for mechanically breaking the emulsion into two phases and separating the solids therefrom. The separator comprises a centrally disposed entrance or spreader tube discharging the flow stream radially outwardly through a body of granular media contained within a cylindrical housing concentrically disposed with respect to the entrance tube. The oil and water, or other liquid, are separated during passage of the flow stream through the granular media whereby the oil percolates upwardly through a water reservoir for collection in a collector, and the water or other liquid flows downwardly by gravity for discharge through a suitable valve.

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Sand Springs, OK, United States of America

Charles R Ferrin