Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

Other

Separex

Roger-Marc Nicoud

Gerard Paul Hotier

Choua Cohen

Michel Bailly

Nicolas Couenne

Wilhelm Hauck

G Erard Hotier

A method for optimizing the operation of a simulated moving bed (LMS) type (closed or open) separation loop consisting of the interconnection in series of beds containing an adsorbent solid phase, divided into several zones, four for example, delimited by fluid injection and draw-off points (F, El, Ex, R). The optimization sought is obtained by selecting initial values to be imposed on operating variables (internal liquid and solid flows, permutation period, etc.) of a simulated moving bed (LMS) from internal flow rates of a true moving bed (LMV), knowing the flow rate of the feedstock (F) injected in the loop and the concentrations of the various constituents of this feedstock. The invention has an application for optimizing aromatic hydrocarbon or optical isomer separation loops.

Method intended to optimize the operation of a system for separating the constituents of a mixture

A device allows for continuous regulation of the composition of a fluid mixture that includes at least two components of different polarities. The device is designed, for example, to be inserted in a separation system that the device supplies with a carrier fluid of stabilized composition. The device includes a storage tank (,) receiving a mixture coming from the separation system and at least one auxiliary vessel (,) containing one of the components of the mixture. To control the transfer of this component from auxiliary vessel (,) to storage tank (,), the device further includes at least one tubular capacitive sonde (CS) totally immersed in the fluid mixture, a sonde (TS) for measuring the temperature of the mixture, and a sonde (LS) for measuring the mixture level in storage tank (,). A regulating unit (,) is connected to the various sondes to determine the volume of the component to be transferred to storage tank (,) from the at least one auxiliary vessel in order to restore a set composition for the mixture. The device can be used, for example, for the control of simulated moving beds, of distillation columns, etc.

Constituent separation system

Process for controlling the pressure in a separation system comprising a loop including several zones defined by fluid injection and fluid draw-off points is disclosed. A parameter such as the pressure is controlled at least at one point of the loop by acting on the global difference (.delta.) between the flow rates of fluids injected and the flow rates of fluids drawn off by means of well-determined variations (.delta..sub.X) applied to at least two injected and/or drawn off flows rates. This control is performed for example by imposing on each of these flow rates, variations (.delta..sub.X) depending on the respective values of these flow rates, and for example variations proportional to the respective values (X) of these flow rates. It is for example possible to maintain one or two of the flow rates of fluids injected and drawn off constant. The process can be applied for separating aromatic hydrocarbons or optical isomers for example.

Process for controlling the pressure in a simulated moving bed

In a simulated mobile bed separation process, perturbations are corrected in the compositions of an extract (EA) or raffinate (RB) due to the dead volume introduced by at least one recycling pump (P) or compressor for a liquid, supercritical or gaseous mixture in a closed circuit of column sections. The volume of the section immediately upstream of the dead volume is reduced by an appropriate value when said dead volume is located downstream of this section and upstream of the extraction streams of said section, or the volume of the section immediately downstream of the dead volume is reduced by an appropriate value when the dead volume is located downstream of the injection streams into said section and upstream of this section. The invention is applicable to the separation of isomers of aromatic hydrocarbons containing 8 carbon atoms.

Chromatographic simulated mobile bed separation process with dead volume

Perturbations are corrected in the compositions of an extract (EA) or raffinate (RB) due to the dead volume introduced by at least one recycling pump (P) for a liquid, supercritical or gaseous mixture in a closed circuit of column sections, or due to a degradation in their separating power each time an injection or extraction stream passes from a position anterior to a position posterior to each of the dead volumes in the circuit or each section whose separation power has been degraded. Firstly, the connection period for said stream to the circuit is increased by an appropriate value, and then when the stream passes from the posterior position to the dead volume, or connection to the degraded section, to the following position, the connection period is reduced so that the period regains the value which would have been applied if each of the dead volumes had been ignored or the degradation in the separation powers had been ignored.

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Richardmesnil, France

Roger-Marc Nicoud