Study on the Jet-Cyclone Coupled Separation Performance of Solvent Naphtha Containing MDEA

Abstract

The removal of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) from solvent naphtha is crucial due to its impacts on pH and the refining process. In this study, the Fluent simulation method was used to study the internal flow field of a jet-cyclone separator to address the limitations of experimental research. The absorption capacity of water and ethylene glycol were compared by batch experiments as a jet-cyclone coupled separation method for MDEA. In addition, the effects of cyclone inlet flow rate, absorbing liquid temperature, absorbing liquid flow rate, and equipment structure on the separation efficiency of MDEA were investigated. The results showed that the comprehensive separation efficiency of MDEA ranged from 81.4 to 95.43%. This work is the first to use a jet-cyclone coupling separator to treat MDEA in solvent naphtha, expanding the gas–liquid mass transfer equipment field, with promising application prospects.