Defoaming Systems and Methods in Hydrocarbon Processes

Abstract

Methods for defoaming in hydrocarbon processes include the steps of providing a defoaming agent, and introducing the agent into a hydrocarbon process to inhibit or control foaming in the hydrocarbon process. These methods may be particularly useful in coking processes, especially as to foaming in coke drums. In certain embodiments, defoaming agents may comprise a plurality of carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, drag reducing agents may comprise high-molecular weight alkanes. Advantages include, but are not limited to, more efficient and effective foam inhibition, reduced or eliminated product contamination, reduced or eliminated catalyst poisoning, increased refinery production rate, debottlenecking the coker, and reduced cost and consequences of applying too much antifoam.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for defoaming in a coking process comprising the steps of:
 providing a defoaming agent wherein the defoaming agent comprises a plurality of carbon nanoparticles; and   introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a carrier fluid within which the defoaming agent is dissolved or dispersed to form a liquid defoaming agent; and 
 introducing the liquid defoaming agent into the coking process. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the carrier fluid comprises at least one of kerosene, light coker gas oil, heavy coker gas oil, light cycle oil and gasoline. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the carrier fluid is a hydrocarbon having a boiling point less than about 1,000° F. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the defoaming agent is introduced into a feed to one or more coke drums to control foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the defoaming agent is introduced into one or more coke drums to control foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of carbon nanoparticles is from about 10 parts per million by weight (ppmw) to 2000 ppmw of carbon nanoparticles relative to a coker feed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting a presence of foaming in one or more coke drums using a level indicator; and 
 introducing an effective amount of the defoaming agent into the coking process wherein the effective amount is determined as comprising an amount of carbon nanoparticles required to substantially inhibit foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process during a last half of a fill cycle of a coke drum. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the carbon nanoparticles are formed in the shape of at least one of platelets, shavings, fibers, flakes, ribbons, rods, strips, spheroids, hollow beads, toroids, pellets and tablets. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no silicone-based compounds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of substantially changing a physical property of any coke produced by the coking process. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of chemically interacting with a hydrotreater catalyst. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process during a last half of a fill cycle of a coke drum; 
 wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of substantially changing the physical properties of any coke produced by the coking process; and 
 wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of chemically interacting with a hydrotreater catalyst. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method for defoaming in a coking process comprising the steps of:
 providing a defoaming agent wherein the defoaming agent comprises at least one of a plurality of carbon nanoparticles and a drag reducing agent; and   introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent comprises the plurality of carbon nanoparticles and the drag reducing agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a carrier fluid within which the defoaming agent is dissolved or dispersed to form a liquid defoaming agent; and 
 introducing the liquid defoaming agent into the coking process. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the carrier fluid comprises at least one of kerosene, light coker gas oil, heavy coker gas oil, light cycle oil, and gasoline. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the carrier fluid is a hydrocarbon having a boiling point less than about 1,000° F. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent is introduced into a feed to one or more coke drums to control foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent is introduced into one or more coke drums to control foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the amount of carbon nanoparticles is from about 10 parts per million by weight (ppmw) to 2000 ppmw of carbon nanoparticles relative to a coker feed. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting a presence of foaming in one or more coke drums using a level indicator; and 
 introducing an effective amount of the defoaming agent into the coking process wherein the effective amount is determined as comprising an amount of carbon nanoparticles required to substantially inhibit foaming in the one or more coke drums. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process during a last half of a fill cycle of a coke drum. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the carbon nanoparticles are formed in a shape of at least one of platelets, shavings, fibers, flakes, ribbons, rods, strips, spheroids, hollow beads, toroids, pellets and tablets. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no silicone-based compounds. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of substantially changing a physical property of any coke produced by the coking process. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of chemically interacting with a hydrotreater catalyst. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 continuously introducing the defoaming agent into the coking process during a last half of a fill cycle of a coke drum; 
 wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of substantially changing a physical property of any coke produced by the coking process; and 
 wherein the defoaming agent further comprises no component capable of chemically interacting with a hydrotreater catalyst.