HYDROCARBON GAS PROCESSING
First Claim
1. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
- (2) said first portion is cooled;
(3) said second portion is cooled;
(4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a cooled gas stream;
(5) said cooled gas stream is divided into first and second streams;
(6) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
(7) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means;
(8) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means;
(9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
(10) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled;
(11) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means;
(12) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said first absorbing means and heated;
(13) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with any said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream;
(14) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction;
(15) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more heat exchange means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (6), and (10); and
(16) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein
(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions; -
(2) said first portion is cooled; (3) said second portion is cooled; (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a cooled gas stream; (5) said cooled gas stream is divided into first and second streams; (6) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled; (7) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (8) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means; (9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (10) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (11) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means; (12) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said first absorbing means and heated; (13) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with any said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream; (14) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; (15) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more heat exchange means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (6), and (10); and (16) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 14, 16)
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2. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein
(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions; -
(2) said first portion is cooled; (3) said second portion is cooled; (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a partially condensed gas stream; (5) said partially condensed gas stream is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream; (6) said vapor stream is divided into first and second streams; (7) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled; (8) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (9) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means; (10) a distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (11) at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a feed to said processing assembly below said second absorbing means and above said heat and mass transfer means; (12) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (13) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means; (14) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said first absorbing means and heated; (15) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with any said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream; (16) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; (17) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more heat exchange means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (7), and (12); and (18) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17)
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3. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein
(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions; -
(2) said first portion is cooled; (3) said second portion is cooled; (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a partially condensed gas stream; (5) said partially condensed gas stream is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream; (6) said vapor stream is divided into first and second streams; (7) said first stream combined with at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream to form a combined stream; (8) said combined stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled; (9) said expanded cooled combined stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (10) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means; (11) a distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (12) any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a feed to said processing assembly below said second absorbing means and above said heat and mass transfer means; (13) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (14) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means; (15) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of said first absorbing means and heated; (16) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with any said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream; (17) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; (18) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more heat exchange means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (8), and (13); and (19) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (5, 7, 9)
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18. An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising
(1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions; -
(2) heat exchange means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it; (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it; (4) first combining means connected to said heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a cooled gas stream; (5) second dividing means connected to said first combining means to receive said cooled gas stream and divide it into first and second streams; (6) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second dividing means to receive said first stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it; (7) first expansion means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and expand it to lower pressure; (8) first and second absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream as a feed thereto between said first and second absorbing means, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (9) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said second absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a bottom feed thereto; (10) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said second absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from the lower region of said second absorbing means; (11) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (12) first vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said heat and mass transfer means to receive a first distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means; (13) said heat exchange means being further connected to said first vapor collecting means to receive said first distillation vapor stream and cool it sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (14) said first absorbing means being further connected to said heat exchange means to receive at least a portion of said condensed stream as a top feed thereto; (15) second vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first absorbing means to receive a second distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said first absorbing means; (16) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second vapor collecting means to receive said second distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (13); (17) second combining means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said heated second distillation vapor stream and any said residual vapor stream and form a combined vapor stream; (18) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second combining means to receive said combined vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (6), and thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; and (19) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (27, 29, 31, 33)
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19. An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising
(1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions; -
(2) heat exchange means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it; (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it; (4) first combining means connected to said heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a partially condensed gas stream; (5) separating means connected to said first combining means to receive said partially condensed gas stream and separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream; (6) second dividing means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and divide it into first and second streams; (7) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second dividing means to receive said first stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it; (8) first expansion means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and expand it to lower pressure; (9) first and second absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream as a feed thereto between said first and second absorbing means, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (10) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said second absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a bottom feed thereto; (11) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said second absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from the lower region of said second absorbing means; (12) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (13) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said processing assembly to supply said expanded liquid stream as a feed thereto below said second absorbing means and above said heat and mass transfer means; (14) first vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said heat and mass transfer means to receive a first distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means; (15) said heat exchange means being further connected to said first vapor collecting means to receive said first distillation vapor stream and cool it sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (16) said first absorbing means being further connected to said heat exchange means to receive at least a portion of said condensed stream as a top feed thereto; (17) second vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first absorbing means to receive a second distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said first absorbing means; (18) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second vapor collecting means to receive said second distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (15); (19) second combining means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said heated second distillation vapor stream and any said residual vapor stream and form a combined vapor stream; (20) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second combining means to receive said combined vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (7), and thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; and (21) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (21, 23, 25, 28, 30, 32, 34)
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20. An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising
(1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions; -
(2) heat exchange means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it; (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it; (4) first combining means connected to said heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a partially condensed gas stream; (5) separating means connected to said first combining means to receive said partially condensed gas stream and separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream; (6) second dividing means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and divide it into first and second streams; (7) second combining means connected to said second dividing means and said separating means to receive said first stream and at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and form a combined stream; (8) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second combining means to receive said combined stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it; (9) first expansion means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed combined stream and expand it to lower pressure; (10) first and second absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled combined stream as a feed thereto between said first and second absorbing means, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (11) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said second absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a bottom feed thereto; (12) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said second absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from the lower region of said second absorbing means; (13) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction; (14) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said processing assembly to supply said expanded liquid stream as a feed thereto below said second absorbing means and above said heat and mass transfer means; (15) first vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said heat and mass transfer means to receive a first distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said heat and mass transfer means; (16) said heat exchange means being further connected to said first vapor collecting means to receive said first distillation vapor stream and cool it sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (17) said first absorbing means being further connected to said heat exchange means to receive at least a portion of said condensed stream as a top feed thereto; (18) second vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first absorbing means to receive a second distillation vapor stream from the upper region of said first absorbing means; (19) said heat exchange means being further connected to said second vapor collecting means to receive said second distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (16); (20) third combining means connected to said heat exchange means to receive said heated second distillation vapor stream and any said residual vapor stream and form a combined vapor stream; (21) said heat exchange means being further connected to said third combining means to receive said combined vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (8), and thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; and (22) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 26)
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Specification