Integrated heavy hydrocarbon removal, amine treating and dehydration
First Claim
1. A process for the purification of a raw natural gas feed stream, wherein said process comprising the steps of:
- (1) passing said raw natural gas feed stream through an adsorbent unit containing an adsorbent, said adsorbent selective for removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water from said natural gas feed stream, and thereby forming a first effluent stream;
(2) passing said first effluent stream in contact with an aqueous amine absorbent, wherein said aqueous amine absorbent removes acid gases from said first effluent stream thereby forming a natural gas product effluent having an acid gas content less than said first effluent stream;
(3) recirculating said natural gas product effluent through said adsorbent unit containing an adsorbent selective for removal of water; and
(4) collecting a natural gas product stream having an amount of water and heavy hydrocarbons less than said raw natural gas stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an improved integrated process for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water from a raw natural gas feed stream. More specifically, the integrated process of the present invention comprises a three step process involving the adsorption of heavy hydrocarbons and water on an adsorbent bed selective for the same, a subsequent aqueous lean amine treatment for the absorptive removal of acid gases, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, and an adsorptive removal of water. The process of the present invention results in a highly purified natural gas product stream.
69 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A process for the purification of a raw natural gas feed stream, wherein said process comprising the steps of:
-
(1) passing said raw natural gas feed stream through an adsorbent unit containing an adsorbent, said adsorbent selective for removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water from said natural gas feed stream, and thereby forming a first effluent stream;
(2) passing said first effluent stream in contact with an aqueous amine absorbent, wherein said aqueous amine absorbent removes acid gases from said first effluent stream thereby forming a natural gas product effluent having an acid gas content less than said first effluent stream;
(3) recirculating said natural gas product effluent through said adsorbent unit containing an adsorbent selective for removal of water; and
(4) collecting a natural gas product stream having an amount of water and heavy hydrocarbons less than said raw natural gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 21)
-
-
11. A natural gas purification system to dehydrate and remove heavy hydrocarbons from a raw natural gas stream comprising:
-
(1) a first adsorption unit comprising a first adsorbent, wherein said first adsorbent is selective for the adsorption of heavy hydrocarbons and water;
(2) an amine treatment absorber for the absorption of acid gases to produce an acid gas-reduced effluent having an acid gas content less than said raw natural gas stream;
(3) means to direct effluent from said first adsorption unit to said amine treatment absorber; and
(4) means to direct said acid gas-reduced effluent to said first adsorption unit comprising second adsorbent selective for removal of water. - View Dependent Claims (12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
-
-
23. A process for the purification of a raw natural gas feed stream, wherein said process comprising the steps of:
-
(1) passing said raw natural gas feed stream in contact with an aqueous amine absorbent, wherein said aqueous amine absorbent removes acid gases from said raw natural gas feed stream thereby forming a natural gas product effluent having an acid gas content less than said raw natural gas feed stream;
(2) recirculating said natural gas product effluent through an adsorbent unit containing an adsorbent, said adsorbent selective for removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water from said natural gas product effluent; and
(3) collecting a natural gas product stream having an amount of water and heavy hydrocarbons less than said raw natural gas stream.
-
Specification