Method and device for separating hydrocarbons and contaminants with a surface treatment mechanism

Abstract

The disclosure includes a method for separating a feed stream in a distillation tower may comprise maintaining a controlled freeze zone section in the distillation tower that forms solids from a feed stream, wherein the controlled freeze zone section includes one or more internally disposed elements and a controlled freeze zone wall having an internal wall surface inside of the distillation tower, modifying at least one of the internally disposed elements, the internal wall surface, or both with a treatment mechanism that includes at least one of (a) removing portions of the internal wall surface and (b) applying a coating surface, introducing the feed stream into the controlled freeze zone section, forming the solids from the feed stream in the controlled freeze zone section, and at least one of preventing and destabilizing adhesion of the solids to the internal wall surface with the treatment mechanism.

1 . A method for separating a feed stream in a distillation tower comprising:
 maintaining a controlled freeze zone section in the distillation tower that forms solids from a feed stream, wherein the controlled freeze zone section includes one or more internally disposed elements and a controlled freeze zone wall having an internal wall surface inside of the distillation tower;   modifying at least one of the internally disposed elements, the internal wall surface, or both with a treatment mechanism that includes at least one of (a) removing portions of the internal wall surface and (b) applying a coating surface;   introducing the feed stream into the controlled freeze zone section;   forming the solids from the feed stream in the controlled freeze zone section; and   at least one of preventing and destabilizing adhesion of the solids to the internal wall surface with the treatment mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing portions of the internal wall surface comprises one of mechanically and electrochemically removing material from the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein mechanically removing material comprises sanding, grinding, sandblasting, or mechanically polishing the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein electrochemically removing material comprises electropolishing the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating surface comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating surface comprises an innermost surface of the internal wall surface within the inside of the distillation tower. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying a surface of at least one of at least two internally disposed elements with a treatment mechanism, wherein the two internally disposed elements comprise a melt tray assembly and a spray assembly, and wherein at least one of the melt tray assembly and the spray assembly is separate from the internal wall surface; and   at least one of preventing and destabilizing adhesion of the solids to the at least one of the melt tray assembly and the spray assembly with the treatment mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting a closing element having a closing element inner surface into a wall opening of the controlled freeze zone wall, wherein the inserted closing element inner surface is substantially flush with the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing hydrocarbons comprising:
 maintaining a controlled freeze zone section in the distillation tower that forms solids from a feed stream, wherein the controlled freeze zone section includes internally disposed elements and a controlled freeze zone wall having an internal wall surface inside of the distillation tower;   modifying at least one of the elements, the internal wall surface, or both with a treatment mechanism that includes at least one of (a) removing portions of the internal wall surface and (b) applying a coating surface;   introducing the feed stream into the controlled freeze zone section;   forming solids from the feed stream in the controlled freeze zone section;   at least one of preventing and destabilizing adhesion of the solids to the internal wall surface with the treatment mechanism; and   producing hydrocarbons in the feed stream from the distillation tower.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein removing portions of the internal wall surface comprises one of mechanically and electrochemically removing material from the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein mechanically removing material comprises sanding, grinding, sandblasting, or mechanically polishing the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein electrochemically removing material comprises electropolishing the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coating surface comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coating surface comprises an innermost surface of the internal wall surface within the inside of the distillation tower. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 modifying a surface of at least one of a melt tray assembly and a spray assembly within the controlled freeze zone section with the treatment mechanism, wherein at least one of the melt tray assembly and the spray assembly is separate from the internal wall surface; and   at least one of preventing and destabilizing adhesion of the solids to the at least one of the melt tray assembly and the spray assembly with the treatment mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising inserting a closing element having a closing element inner surface into a wall opening of the controlled freeze zone wall, wherein the inserted closing element inner surface is substantially flush with the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         17 . A distillation tower that separates a contaminant in a feed stream from a hydrocarbon in the feed stream, comprising:
 a stripper section constructed and arranged to separate a feed stream, comprising a contaminant and a hydrocarbon, into an enriched contaminant bottom liquid stream, comprising the contaminant, and a freezing zone vapor stream, comprising the hydrocarbon, without forming solids; and   a controlled freeze zone comprising:
 a spray assembly constructed and arranged to form the solid; 
 a melt tray assembly constructed and arranged to melt the solids; 
 an internal wall surface, inside of the distillation tower, at least one of having a substantially smooth surface and a coating surface, wherein the coating surface is inside of the distillation tower and is an outermost surface of the internal wall surface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The distillation tower of  claim 17 , wherein the controlled freeze zone wall includes a wall opening that protrudes away from the inside of the distillation tower. 
     
     
         19 . The distillation tower of  claim 18 , further comprising a closing element within the wall opening, wherein the closing element includes a closing element inner surface that is substantially flush with the internal wall surface. 
     
     
         20 . The distillation tower of  claim 17 , wherein the spray assembly includes a spray head and a spray nozzle, and wherein at least one of the spray head and the spray nozzle-have a substantially smooth surface or a coating surface. 
     
     
         21 . The distillation tower of  claim 17 , further comprising a rectifier section constructed and arranged to separate the feedstream without forming solids. 
     
     
         22 . The distillation tower of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the stripping section, the controlled freeze zone section and the rectifier section are in a first vessel and another of the at least one of the stripping section, the controlled freeze zone section and the rectifier section are in a second vessel that is separate from the first vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The distillation tower of  claim 21 , wherein the stripping section and the controlled freeze zone section are in a first vessel and the rectifier section is in a second vessel that is separate from the first vessel.