DIMERIZATION OF CYCLOPENTADIENE FROM SIDE STREAM FROM DEBUTANIZER

Abstract

A system and a process for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD) including producing a C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream and a C.sub.5 rich side draw from a debutanizer, where the C.sub.5 rich side draw and at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream are directed to a dimerizer where the CPD is thermally dimerized to dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). DCPD is more stable than CPD and thus safer to handle.

Claims

1. A system for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), the system comprising: a debutanizer comprising: a feed of C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons; a C.sub.4 overhead stream; a C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream; and a C.sub.5 rich side draw; a dimerizer comprising: a feed from the C.sub.5 rich side draw; a feed from at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream; and a pyrolysis gasoline bottoms product stream.

2. The system of claim 1 where the dimerizer is a thermal dimerizer.

3. The system of claim 1 where a C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich tar solvent makeup stream is drawn from the C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream and the balance is directed to the dimerizer.

4. A process for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), the process comprising: introducing a C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons stream to a debutanizer; debutanizing the C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons thereby producing: a C.sub.4 overhead stream; a C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream; and a C.sub.5 rich side draw; introducing the C.sub.5 rich side draw and at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream to a dimerizer; dimerizing the CPD in the dimerizer; and producing a bottoms product stream.

5. The process of claim 4 where the dimerizing is thermal dimerizing.

6. The process of claim 5 where the dimerizer is operated: at a temperature between about 200° F. (93° C.) and about 250° F. (121° C.); and at a pressure between about 35 psia (241 kPa) and about 60 psia (414 kPa).

7. The process of claim 5 where the dimerizer is operated: at a temperature between about 210° F. (99° C.) and about 220° F.(104° C.); and at a pressure between about 40 psia (276 kPa) and about 50 psia (345 kPa).

8. The process of claim 4 further comprising drawing a C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich tar solvent makeup stream from the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream and directing the balance to the dimerizer.

9. The process of claim 4 where the pyrolysis gasoline bottoms product stream comprises dicyclopentadiene (DCPD).

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising making a product from the DCPD selected from the group consisting of an adhesion product, a resin, an ink, a paint, and combinations thereof.

11. Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) produced by the process of claim 4.

12. A product produced from the DCPD of claim 11, where the product is selected from the group consisting of an adhesion product, a resin, an ink, a paint, and combinations thereof.

13. An ethylene plant comprising: a system for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), the system comprising: a debutanizer comprising: a feed of C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons; a C.sub.4 overhead stream; a C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream; and a C.sub.5 rich side draw; a dimerizer comprising: a feed from the C.sub.5 rich side draw; a feed from at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C7 rich bottoms stream; and a pyrolysis gasoline bottoms product stream.

14. The ethylene plant of claim 13 where the dimerizer is a thermal dimerizer.

15. The ethylene plant of claim 13 where a C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich tar solvent makeup stream is drawn from the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream and the balance is directed to the dimerizer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration a process for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), and more particularly relates to dimerizing CPD to give dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) in an ethylene plant

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The hydrocarbon feed 58 to debutanizer column 48 is may include C.sub.3 or C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 hydrocarbons. Since streams C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream 46, C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50, and overhead stream 62 contain C.sub.3-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons collectively, hydrocarbon feed 58 should contain C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons and may also contain C.sub.3.

[0013] Referring again to the non-limiting embodiment of the cyclopentadiene (CPD) dimerization system 60 and process shown in FIG. 1, the debutanizer column 48 is configured to produce a C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50. The operating conditions of the debutanizer column 48 include an overhead pressure of from about 29 psia (200 kPa) independently to about 130 psia (896 kPa) depending on condensing media (i.e., refrigerant, cooling water); and an overhead operating temperature ranging from about 1° F.(−17° C.) independently to about 113° F. (45° C.); and a bottoms temperature from about 180° F. (82° C.) independently to about 280° F. (138° C.).

[0014] It will be appreciated that the location of C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50 should be carefully evaluated through simulation of the debutanizer column 48 to ensure that the C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50 has the highest concentration of C.sub.5 range hydrocarbons in order to minimize the amount of C.sub.5 range hydrocarbons concentration in C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream 46 of debutanizer column 48. In accordance with this non-limiting embodiment, the C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream 46 of debutanizer column 48 mainly consists of C.sub.6+C.sub.7 range hydrocarbons.

[0015] After drawing any necessary makeup for the optional C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich tar solvent makeup stream 44, the net debutanizer bottoms stream 52 may be mixed with the C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50 as feed to a thermal dimerizer 54. The thermal dimerizer 54 may be utilized to dimerize the cyclopentadienes present in the C.sub.5-rich side draw stream 50 and any present in the portion of the C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream 46 directed to the net debutanizer bottoms stream 52 to dimerize CPD to dicyclopentadiene. This configuration may help to ensure that the combined dimerized pyrolysis gasoline 56 is stabilized to prevent safety hazards in transportation and storage. Any C.sub.6-C.sub.7 molecules from aromatic rich bottoms stream 46 not used or any surplus molecules are blended with dimerized pyrolysis gasoline 56.

[0016] In one non-limiting embodiment, the dimerizer 54 is a thermal dimerizer. The operating conditions of the thermal dimerizer 54 include a pressure of from about 35 psia (241 kPa) independently to about 60 psia (414 kPa); alternatively from about 40 psia (276 kPa) independently to about 50 psia (345 kPa); and an operating temperature ranging from about 200° F. (93° C.) independently to about 250° F. (121° C.); alternatively from about 210° F. (99° C.) independently to about 220° F. (104° C.).

[0017] The dimerized pyrolysis gasoline 56 may be further processed to make adhesion products, resins, inks, paints, and the like. Optionally, a C.sub.8-C.sub.10 steam cracked naphtha (SCN) stream 40 may be combined with dimerized pyrolysis gasoline 56.

[0018] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. However, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. For example, debutanizer conditions and configuration, dimerizer conditions and configuration, and the composition and amount of the various hydrocarbon streams falling within the claimed or disclosed parameters, but not specifically identified or tried in a particular example, are expected to be within the scope of this invention.

[0019] The present invention may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. In addition, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed. For instance, in one non-limiting embodiment there may be provided

[0020] There may be additionally provided, in another non-restrictive version, a process for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), where the process comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of introducing a C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons stream to a debutanizer, debutanizing the C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons thereby producing a C.sub.4 overhead stream, a C.sub.6-C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream, and a C.sub.5 rich side draw, where the process further comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of introducing the C.sub.5 rich side draw and at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream to a dimerizer, dimerizing the CPD in the dimerizer, and producing a bottoms product stream.

[0021] There may also be provided an ethylene plant comprising a system for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD), where the system comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a debutanizer that in turn comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a feed of C.sub.4-C.sub.7 hydrocarbons, a C.sub.4 overhead stream, a C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream, and a C.sub.5 rich side draw, where the system additionally comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a dimerizer that in turn comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a feed from the C.sub.5 rich side draw, a feed from at least a portion of the C.sub.6+C.sub.7 rich bottoms stream, and a pyrolysis gasoline bottoms product stream.

[0022] The words “comprising” and “comprises” as used throughout the claims, are to be interpreted to mean “including but not limited to” and “includes but not limited to”, respectively.

[0023] To the extent used herein, the word “substantially” shall mean “being largely but not wholly that which is specified.”

[0024] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0025] To the extent used herein, the term “about” in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter).

[0026] As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.