Peter L Oetinger

US Patent:

45954909, Jun 17, 1986

Filed:

Apr 1, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/718368

Inventors:

Robert L. Gray - Mahopac NY
Peter L. Oetinger - Louisville KY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - Danbury CT

International Classification:

C10G 2503

US Classification:

208310R

Abstract:

Normal paraffins present in high concentrations in light naphtha streams are separated from non-normal paraffins in a four or more bed adsorption system employing, on a cyclic basis, the processing steps of (1) cocurrent purge/adsorption, (2) cocurrent feed/adsorption, (3) countercurrent purge and (4) countercurrent displacement. A processing sequence is employed wherein the cocurrent purge/adsorption and countercurrent purge steps are carried out on a discontinuous basis, while cocurrent feed/adsorption and countercurrent displacement steps are carried out in overlapping sequence. Control means are provided to assure that the high normal paraffin-containing hydrocarbon feed gas and stripping gas are passed to the appropriate beds for said cocurrent purge/adsorption and countercurrent purge steps on a non-continuous basis, said feed gas being continuously fed to a mix drum for mixture with countercurrent purge effluent before removal for use in said cocurrent purge/adsorption step and in said cocurrent feed/adsorption step of the overall four-step process.