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METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FLOW RICH IN METHANE AND A FLOW RICH IN C2+ HYDROCARBONS, AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION

  • US 20110005273A1
  • Filed: 07/07/2010
  • Published: 01/13/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Method for producing a flow rich in methane and a flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons from a supply flow containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising the following steps:

  • separating the supply flow into a first fraction of the supply flow and at least a second fraction of the supply flow,introducing the first fraction of the supply flow into a first heat exchanger;

    cooling the first fraction of the supply flow in the first heat exchanger;

    introducing the cooled first fraction of the supply flow into a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow;

    dividing the light upper flow into a turbine supply fraction and a column supply fraction;

    pressure reduction of the turbine supply fraction in a first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and introduction of at least a portion of the fraction subjected to pressure reduction into the first turbine in a middle portion of a first distillation column;

    cooling and at least partially condensing the column supply fraction in a second heat exchanger, pressure reduction and introduction of the cooled column supply fraction into an upper portion of the first distillation column;

    pressure reduction and partial vaporisation of the heavy lower flow in the first heat exchanger and introduction of the heavy lower flow subjected to pressure reduction into a second separation flask in order to produce an upper gas fraction and a lower liquid fraction;

    pressure reduction of the lower liquid fraction and introduction in the middle portion of the first distillation column;

    cooling and at least partially condensing the upper gas fraction in the second heat exchanger and introduction into the upper portion of the first distillation column;

    recovery of a lower column flow at the bottom of the first distillation column, the flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons being formed from the lower column flow;

    recovery and reheating of an upper column flow rich in methane,compressing at least a fraction of the upper column flow in at least a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and in at least a second compressor;

    forming the flow rich in methane from the reheated and compressed upper column flow;

    removing an extraction flow from the upper column flow;

    cooling and introducing the cooled extraction flow into an upper portion of the first distillation column;

    the method comprising the following steps;

    introducing at least a portion of the second fraction of the supply flow into a second dynamic pressure reduction turbine, separate from the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine,forming a cooled reflux flow from at least a portion of an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the fraction subjected to pressure reduction from the second dynamic turbine forming the effluent from the dynamic pressure reduction turbinethe portion of the effluent from the dynamic pressure reduction turbine being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger in order to form the cooled reflux flow,introducing the cooled reflux flow from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.

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