Apparatus For Humidification Of Hydrocarbon Mixtures

Abstract

A humidification system (A) for humidifying a dry hydrocarbon stream includes a column ( 10 ) which defines an interior cavity ( 20 ). The cavity is partially filled with a bed ( 12 ) of a packing material ( 40 ) and a layer of water ( 20 ), leaving a headspace above the water. An inlet ( 52 ) adjacent a lower end of the cavity receives a dry hydrocarbon stream which is broken up by the packing material and dissolves water as it passes therethrough. Entrained water droplets fall out of the wet blend in a disengagement zone ( 70 ) above the water layer leaving the hydrocarbon stream humidified yet substantially free of liquid water in an upper region ( 72 ) of the column.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel that defines an interior cavity and has upper and lower ends;   a bed of a packing material in the cavity, the bed having a top surface below the upper end of the vessel;   a head space chamber defined between the top surface of the bed and the upper end of the vessel;   a first gas inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the top surface of the bed;   a second water inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the top surface of the bed; and   a third gas outlet port structure in the head space chamber;   wherein the vessel is free of additional outlet port structures in the head space chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second water inlet port structure is coupled to a water source. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas inlet port structure is coupled to a hydrocarbon source. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third port structure is coupled to a polymerization reactor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head space chamber is closed other than the third gas outlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head space chamber is configured to be of sufficient height to allow separation of entrained water and hydrocarbon to occur. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a means for returning a portion of a hydrocarbon stream which has been humidified to the interior cavity. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel that defines an interior cavity and has upper and lower ends;   a bed of a packing material in the cavity, the bed having a top surface below the upper end of the vessel;   a head space chamber defined between the top surface of the bed and the upper end of the vessel;   a first fluid inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the top surface of the bed;   a second fluid inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the top surface of the bed;   a third fluid outlet port structure in the head space chamber; and   means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second water inlet port structure is coupled to a water source. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first gas inlet port structure is coupled to a hydrocarbon source. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the third port structure is coupled to a polymerization reactor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream is a head space chamber defined between the top surface of the bed and the upper end of the vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream is a separate chamber communicating with the third port structure. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for providing water to the apparatus;   means for providing a hydrocarbon stream to the apparatus;   means for breaking up the hydrocarbon stream into droplets and dissolving a portion of water into each droplet;   means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream so that the hydrocarbon stream is substantially free of undissolved water.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream is a head space chamber defined between the top surface of the bed and the interior cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for separating entrained water droplets from a hydrocarbon stream is a separate chamber communicating with the third port structure. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for breaking up the hydrocarbon stream into droplets and dissolving a portion of water into each droplet is a bed of particles. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a means for venting the hydrocarbon stream from the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A kit of components comprising:
 a vessel that defines an interior cavity and has upper and lower ends and includes;
 a bed of a packing material in the cavity, the bed having a top surface below the upper end of the vessel; 
 a head space chamber defined between the top surface of the bed and the upper end of the vessel; 
 a first gas inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the top surface of the bed; 
 a second water inlet port structure between the lower end of the vessel and the topsurface of the bed; and 
 a third gas outlet port structure in the head space chamber; 
   a water source;   a hydrocarbon source, wherein the hydrocarbon is a monomer; and   a humidified hydrocarbon stream which is substantially free of entrained water droplets.