System and method for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization

Abstract

A system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization having at least one reaction subsystem including at least one high intensity mixer and a stripping station. Multiple reaction subsystems can be utilized. A method is likewise disclosed for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization comprising:
 at least one reaction subsystem including
 a high intensity mixer, the mixer having an infeed and an outfeed, and, a mixing agitator; and 
 a stripping station, the stripping station including an infeed, an outfeed and a stripping structure, 
 wherein the outfeed of the high intensity mixer is one of directly and indirectly fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, 
 wherein the infeed of the high intensity mixer is structurally configured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and aqueous, and wherein the outfeed of the stripping structure is structurally configured to dispense hydrocarbon fuel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 1  wherein the stripping structure comprises one of a solid and a liquid adsorbent structurally configured to adsorb oxidized sulfur. 
     
     
         3 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a separator having an infeed, an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon fuel outfeed; 
 wherein the infeed is fluidly coupled to the outfeed of the high intensity mixer and the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed is one of indirectly and directly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 3  wherein the aqueous outfeed is positioned proximate a bottom of the separator with the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed being positioned above the aqueous outfeed. 
     
     
         5 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 3  further comprising a retention tank having an infeed and an outfeed, wherein the infeed of the retention tank is fluidly coupled to the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed, and wherein the outfeed of the retention tank is fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station. 
     
     
         6 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 5  wherein the retention tank further comprises an agitator therewithin, structurally configured to agitate the hydrocarbon fuel introduced thereinto from the separator. 
     
     
         7 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reaction subsystem comprises at least two reaction subsystems defining at least a first reaction subsystem and a second reaction subsystem, each having the high intensity mixer and the stripping station. 
     
     
         8 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 7  wherein the second reaction subsystem further includes a separator having an infeed, an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon fuel outfeed, the aqueous outfeed of the separator of the second reaction subsystem fluidly coupled to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the first reaction subsystem, and, the outfeed of the stripping station of the first reaction system fluidly coupled to the infeed of the second high intensity mixer. 
     
     
         9 . The system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization of  claim 7  wherein each of the first and the second reaction subsystems further include a separator having an infeed and an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon outfeed, the aqueous outfeed of the separator of the first reaction subassembly fluidly coupled to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem, with the outfeed of the stripping station of the first reaction subsystem fluidly coupled to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem. 
     
     
         10 . A method of liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization comprising the steps of:
 providing a reaction subsystem including
 a high intensity mixer, the mixer having an infeed and an outfeed, and, a mixing agitator; and 
 a stripping station, the stripping station including an infeed, an outfeed and a stripping structure, 
 wherein the outfeed of the high intensity mixer is one of directly and indirectly fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, and 
 wherein the infeed of the high intensity mixer is structurally configured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and aqueous, and wherein the outfeed of the stripping structure is structurally configured to dispense hydrocarbon fuel; 
   introducing a hydrocarbon fuel into the infeed of the high intensity mixer of a first of the at least one reaction subsystems;   introducing aqueous into the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the first of the at least one reaction subsystems;   oxidizing at least some sulfur within the hydrocarbon fuel within the high intensity mixer to form oxidized sulfur;   directing at least some of the hydrocarbon fuel into the stripping station of the first of the at least one reaction subsystems; and   stripping the oxidized sulfur from the hydrocarbon within the stripping station of the first of the at least one reaction subsystems.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first reaction subsystem further includes a separator, the separator having an infeed, an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon fuel outfeed, the infeed fluidly coupled to the outfeed of the high intensity mixer and the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, the method further comprising the step of:
 separating the aqueous from the hydrocarbon fuel within the separator of the first of the at least one reaction subsystems. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second reaction subsystem, the second reaction subsystem having
 a high intensity mixer, the mixer having an infeed and an outfeed, and, a mixing agitator; and 
 a stripping station, the stripping station including an infeed, an outfeed and a stripping structure, 
 wherein the outfeed of the high intensity mixer is one of directly and indirectly fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, 
 wherein the infeed of the high intensity mixer is structurally configured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and aqueous, and wherein the outfeed of the stripping structure is structurally configured to dispense hydrocarbon fuel. 
 
 coupling the outfeed of the stripping station of the first reaction subsystem to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem; 
 introducing hydrocarbon fuel from the stripping station of the first reaction subsystem to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem; 
 introducing aqueous into the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem; 
 oxidizing at least some sulfur within the hydrocarbon fuel within the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem to form oxidized sulfur; 
 directing at least some of the hydrocarbon fuel into the stripping station of the second reaction subsystem; and 
 stripping the oxidized sulfur from the hydrocarbon within the stripping station of the second reaction subsystem. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first reaction subsystem further includes a separator, the separator having an infeed, an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon fuel outfeed, the infeed fluidly coupled to the outfeed of the high intensity mixer and the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, and wherein the second reaction subsystem further includes a separator the separator having an infeed, an aqueous outfeed and a hydrocarbon fuel outfeed, the infeed fluidly coupled to the outfeed of the high intensity mixer and the hydrocarbon fuel outfeed fluidly coupled to the infeed of the stripping station, the method further comprising the steps of:
 separating the aqueous from the hydrocarbon fuel within the separator of the first reaction subsystem prior to the step of directing the hydrocarbon fuel into the stripping station of the first reaction subsystem; 
 separating the aqueous from the hydrocarbon fuel within the separator of the second reaction subsystem; and 
 directing one of:
 the aqueous from the aqueous outfeed of the separator of the second reaction subsystem to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the first reaction subsystem, or 
 the aqueous from the aqueous outfeed of the separator of the first reaction subsystem to the infeed of the high intensity mixer of the second reaction subsystem. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the aqueous comprises at least a strong acid and an oxidizer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the strong acid comprises one of the group consisting of: sulfuric or nitric, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, trifluoroacetic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the oxidizer comprises hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the aqueous further comprises an organic acid, which may be selected from the group consisting of: acetic, formic, benzoic, or other acid of the carboxylic family. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the aqueous further comprises an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the stripping station includes a stripping structure which includes at least one of a solid and a liquid absorbent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the solid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of: alumina, silica gel, certain clays, zeolites and ion exchange resins and wherein the liquid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of Acetonitrile, Methanol and liquid ion exchange fluids.