Ethane recovery or ethane rejection operation
First Claim
1. A natural gas liquids processing system configured to flexibly operate in ethane rejection or ethane recovery, comprising:
- a first heat exchanger configured to chill a feed gas stream to form a chilled feed gas stream;
a separator configured to separate the chilled feed gas stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream;
an absorber column configured to produce an absorber bottom stream and an absorber overhead stream;
a stripper column coupled to the liquid stream and configured to receive the absorber bottom stream and to produce a stripper bottom stream and a stripper overhead stream; and
a valve coupled between the first heat exchanger and the absorber column and configured to;
during ethane rejection, reduce a pressure of the stripper overhead stream so that the stripper overhead stream enters the absorber column as a two-phase reflux stream; and
during ethane recovery, reduce a pressure of the vapor streams so that the vapor stream enters the absorber column as a liquid;
wherein the vapor stream is coupled to a top of the absorber column and to a bottom of the absorber column;
wherein the stripper overhead stream is coupled to the top of the absorber column and to the bottom of the absorber column;
wherein the system is configured, during ethane rejection, to direct the stripper overhead stream to the top of the absorber column and to direct the vapor stream to the bottom of the absorber column;
wherein the system is configured, during ethane recovery, to direct the vapor stream the top of the absorber column and to direct the stripper overhead stream to the bottom of the absorber column.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a natural gas liquids processing (NGL) system, the system being selectively configured in either an ethane rejection configuration or an ethane recovery configuration, the method comprising, when the NGL system is in the ethane rejection configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane rejection configuration, includes ethane in an amount of less than 5% by volume, and when the NGL system is in the ethane recovery configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane recovery configuration, includes ethane in an amount of at least about 30% by volume.
181 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A natural gas liquids processing system configured to flexibly operate in ethane rejection or ethane recovery, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger configured to chill a feed gas stream to form a chilled feed gas stream; a separator configured to separate the chilled feed gas stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; an absorber column configured to produce an absorber bottom stream and an absorber overhead stream; a stripper column coupled to the liquid stream and configured to receive the absorber bottom stream and to produce a stripper bottom stream and a stripper overhead stream; and a valve coupled between the first heat exchanger and the absorber column and configured to; during ethane rejection, reduce a pressure of the stripper overhead stream so that the stripper overhead stream enters the absorber column as a two-phase reflux stream; and during ethane recovery, reduce a pressure of the vapor streams so that the vapor stream enters the absorber column as a liquid; wherein the vapor stream is coupled to a top of the absorber column and to a bottom of the absorber column; wherein the stripper overhead stream is coupled to the top of the absorber column and to the bottom of the absorber column; wherein the system is configured, during ethane rejection, to direct the stripper overhead stream to the top of the absorber column and to direct the vapor stream to the bottom of the absorber column; wherein the system is configured, during ethane recovery, to direct the vapor stream the top of the absorber column and to direct the stripper overhead stream to the bottom of the absorber column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of flexibly operating a natural gas liquids processing system in ethane rejection or ethane recovery, comprising:
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chilling a feed gas stream to form a chilled feed gas stream; separating, in a separator, the chilled feed gas stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; receiving, by an absorber column, the vapor stream and a stripper overhead stream; producing, by the absorber column, an absorber overhead stream and an absorber bottom stream; receiving, by a stripper column, the liquid stream and the absorber bottom stream; producing, by the stripper column, the stripper overhead stream and a stripper bottom stream; during ethane rejection; reducing, with a valve, a pressure of the stripper overhead stream; directing the stripper overhead stream to a top of the absorber column so that the stripper overhead stream enters the absorber column as a two-phase reflux stream; directing the vapor stream to a bottom of the absorber column; and during ethane recovery; reducing, by the valve, a pressure of the vapor srteam; directing the vapor stream the top of the absorber column; directing the stripper overhead stream to the bottom of the absorber column. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification