Fina Technology, Inc.

Stone & Webster, Inc.

Technip Process Technology, Inc.

Washington Group International, Inc.

Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.

Vincent A Welch

Slawomir A Oleksy

James R Butler

Leslie F Whittle

Methods and systems for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons include a direct contact condenser to remove compounds from an offgas process stream. The reduction of compounds can decrease duty on the offgas compressor by removing steam and aromatics from the offgas. The dehydrogenation reaction system can be applicable for reactions such as the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene, the dehydrogenation of isoamiline to produce isoprene, or the dehydrogenation of n-pentene to produce piperylene.

Offgas stream direct contact condenser

An energy conservation process directed to the purification of styrene monomer via distillation after the dehydrogenation reaction of ethylbenzene to produce crude styrene is disclosed. As practiced today, the purification of styrene via distillation requires large amounts of energy (i.e., steam) to provide heat to the various distillation columns. The presently disclosed improved process allows for a reduction in the amount of steam needed for this purpose.

Method for reducing energy consumption in a process to purify styrene monomer

The present invention is directed to reduced-energy improvements in methods and systems to produce styrene monomer via ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. The methods and systems reduce utility cost and provide savings in comparison with the current technology practiced in the industry.

Method for reducing energy consumption in the production of styrene monomer utilizing azeotropic water/ethylbenzene feed vaporization

Methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and/or expanding the capacity of a dehydrogenation unit by use of at least one direct heating unit are described.

Use of a direct heating device with a reheater in a dehydrogenation unit

Use of direct heating device with a reheater in a dehydrogenation unit

Improved methods and related apparatus are disclosed for efficiently recovering the heat of condensation from overhead vapor produced during separation of various components of dehydrogenation reaction effluent, particularly in ethylbenzene-to-styrene operations, by the use of at least a compressor to facilitate azeotropic vaporization of an ethylbenzene and water mixture within a preferred range of pressure/temperature conditions so as to minimize undesired polymerization reactions.

EB/SM splitter heat recovery

Apparatus for radial flow reactor and methods of using the reactor for catalytic hydrocarbon processing. The reactor, of annular shaped housing, contains a core region with a heat exchange means. The core region is surrounded by a catalyst bed held by inner and outer walls. The core region and radial catalyst bed are further surrounded by an annular zone containing heat exchange means.

Radial flow reactor

Apparatus and process are disclosed for the distillation separation of styrene monomer from ethylbenzene utilizing a split feed to two distillation columns in conjunction with cascade reboiling utilizing thermal energy from the overhead of one column to supply heat to the second.

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Medway, MA, United States of America

Vincent A Welch