Process for performing a swing bed regeneration operation with minimal

Abstract

A process for regenerating solid treating particles contained in at least two vessels of a swing bed regeneration operation where the effluent of the regeneration operation is maintained regeneration fluid-free and at a substantially constant flowrate has been developed. The swing bed regeneration operation involves at least two vessels, one of which is on-line treating process fluid, and the other is off-line for regeneration. At least a portion of the process fluid effluent from the vessel on-line is conducted to a displacement surge drum. The flowrate of the process fluid effluent from the displacement surge drum is controlled so that downstream units receive a substantially constant flowrate. A portion of the process fluid effluent from the displacement surge drum or a portion of the process fluid effluent from the vessel on-line is periodically used to displace regeneration fluid from the vessel off-line, and during the displacement, the flowrate of effluent from the displacement surge drum is increased to provide additional flow to the vessel off-line without having to reduce the flow to downstream units. In a specific embodiment, both process fluid and regeneration fluid are conducted to the displacement surge drum. The process fluid is used as described above. The regeneration fluid is used to displace process fluid from the vessel that is off-line prior to regeneration of the treating particles. In another specific embodiment, the treating particles are rinsed prior to regeneration to desorb and recycle any adsorbed reactant.