Technology

The Reactor section of the UOP C₃ Oleflex Technology consists of several Radial-Flow Reactors, Charge and Interstage Heaters, and a Reactor Feed-Effluent Heat Exchanger.

Four Reactors are typical for a unit processing Propane feed. Three reactors are for Butane or Isopentane Dehydrogenation. Three Reactors are also used for blends of C₃-C₄ or C₄-C₅ Feeds. 

Because the Reaction is Endothermic, Conversion is maintained by supplying Heat through Interstage Heaters.

The Effluent leaves the last Reactor, exchanges heat with the combined Feed, and is sent to the Product Recovery Section.

In the Product Recovery Section the Reactor Effluent is cooled, compressed, dried, and sent to a Cryogenic Separation System.

The treated Effluent is partially condensed in the Cold Separation System and directed to a Separator.

Two Products come from the Product Recovery Section:

• Separator Gas
• Separator liquid.

The Gas from the Cold High-Pressure Separator is expanded and divided into two Streams: Recycle Gas and Net Gas. The Net Gas is recovered at 90 to 93 mol % Hydrogen purity. The Impurities in the Hydrogen product consist primarily of Methane and Ethane. 

The Separator Liquid, which consists primarily of the Olefin product and unconverted Paraffin, is sent downstream for Processing.

Source: Chapter 5.1 - UOP Oleflex process for light olefin production.