Short contact, elevated temperature meg reclamation

Abstract

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) may be reclaimed by a process that includes contacting a MEG-water-salt stream with a heat transfer fluid and then flash separating the MEG and water in the flash separator vessel where the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa), the temperature is in the range of above 120° C. to about 250° C., and the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes, and then removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel and removing the salt from the flash separator vessel. In some embodiments it is expected that the temperature of the process may range from above 165° C. to about 250° C. and/or that the pressure may be atmospheric.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process to reclaim monoethylene glycol (MEG), the process comprising:
 contacting a stream comprising MEG, water, and at least one salt with a heat transfer fluid;   flash separating the MEG and water from the stream in a flash separator vessel where:
 the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa); 
 the temperature is in the range of about 110° C. to about 250° C.; and 
 the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes; and 
   
       removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel; and 
       removing the at least one salt from the flash separator vessel. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  where the temperature is above 165° C. to about 220° C. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  where the heat transfer fluid is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffinic hydrocarbons, alcohols, glycols, amines, silicone-based liquids and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  where the pressure is atmospheric and above. 
     
     
         5 . The process  claim 1  where the process has a parameter different from a conventional process to reclaim MEG that comprises operating the flash separator vessel under a vacuum, at a temperature of 165° C. or less and at a residence time longer than 10 minutes, where the parameter is selected from the group consisting of:
 reducing the degradation of MEG; 
 reducing the potential for air ingress; 
 removing the need for a vacuum system; 
 reducing the diameter of vessels and/or pipework; and 
 combinations thereof; 
 
       as compared to the conventional process. 
     
     
         6 . A process to reclaim monoethylene glycol (MEG), the process comprising:
 contacting a stream comprising MEG, water, and at least one salt with a heat transfer fluid, where the heat transfer fluid is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffinic hydrocarbons, alcohols, glycols, amines, silicone-based liquids and mixtures thereof;   flash separating the MEG and water from the stream in a flash separator vessel where:
 the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa); 
 the temperature is in the range of above 165° C. to about 250° C.; and 
 the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes; and 
   removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel; and   removing the at least one salt from the flash separator vessel.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  where the pressure is atmospheric and above. 
     
     
         8 . The process  claim 6  where the process has a parameter different from a conventional process to reclaim MEG that comprises operating the flash separator vessel under a vacuum, at a temperature of 165° C. or less and at a residence time longer than 10 minutes, where the parameter is selected from the group consisting of:
 reducing the degradation of MEG; 
 reducing the potential for air ingress; 
 removing the need for a vacuum system; 
 reducing the diameter of vessels and/or 
 pipework; and combinations thereof; 
 
       as compared to the conventional process. 
     
     
         9 . A process to reclaim monoethylene glycol (MEG), the process comprising:
 contacting a stream comprising MEG, water, and at least one salt with a heat transfer fluid;   flash separating the MEG and water from the stream in a flash separator vessel where:
 the pressure is atmospheric and above; 
 the temperature is in the range of above 165° C. to about 250° C.; and 
 the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes; and 
   
       removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel; and 
       removing the at least one salt from the flash separator vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  where the heat transfer fluid is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffinic hydrocarbons, alcohols, glycols, amines, silicone-based liquids and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process  claim 9  where the process has a parameter different from a conventional process to reclaim MEG that comprises operating the flash separator vessel under a vacuum, at a temperature of 165° C. or less and at a residence time longer than 10 minutes, where the parameter is selected from the group consisting of:
 reducing the degradation of MEG; 
 reducing the potential for air ingress; 
 removing the need for a vacuum system; 
 reducing the diameter of vessels and/or pipework; and 
 combinations thereof; 
 
       as compared to the conventional process.