Removal of Acid Gases From A Gas Stream
First Claim
1. A gas processing facility for the separation of a fluid stream, the facility comprising:
- a first co-current contactor configured to receive (i) an initial gas stream comprising a non-absorbing gas and an acid gas and (ii) a second liquid solvent, the first co-current contactor also being configured to release (iii) a first partially-sweetened gas stream and (iv) a first partially-loaded gas-treating solution; and
a final co-current contactor configured to receive (i) a previous partially-sweetened gas stream and (ii) a regenerated liquid solvent, and configured to release (iii) a final sweetened gas stream and (iv) a final lightly-loaded gas-treating solution, wherein the initial gas stream is at least one of;
a tail gas stream from a Claus sulfur recovery process,an acid gas stream from a solvent regeneration process requiring H2S enrichment,a synthesis-gas stream,an acid gas from a cement plant, anda gas stream created internally within the gas processing facility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas processing facility for the separation of fluids is provided. The facility includes co-current contactors placed in series. Each co-current contactor receives a gas stream that includes a non-absorbing gas such as a hydrocarbon gas or nitrogen. The gas stream also includes an acid gas or other contaminant. Each co-current contactor also receives a liquid solvent stream. The co-current contactors then each release a sweetened gas stream and a gas-treating solution. In one processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively sweetened gas streams. In the opposite processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively richer gas-treating solutions. In one aspect, the facility includes at least a first co-current contactor, a second co-current contactor and a final co-current contactor. However, any number of at least two co-current separators may be employed. Methods and processes for separating a gas stream are also provided.
72 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A gas processing facility for the separation of a fluid stream, the facility comprising:
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a first co-current contactor configured to receive (i) an initial gas stream comprising a non-absorbing gas and an acid gas and (ii) a second liquid solvent, the first co-current contactor also being configured to release (iii) a first partially-sweetened gas stream and (iv) a first partially-loaded gas-treating solution; and a final co-current contactor configured to receive (i) a previous partially-sweetened gas stream and (ii) a regenerated liquid solvent, and configured to release (iii) a final sweetened gas stream and (iv) a final lightly-loaded gas-treating solution, wherein the initial gas stream is at least one of; a tail gas stream from a Claus sulfur recovery process, an acid gas stream from a solvent regeneration process requiring H2S enrichment, a synthesis-gas stream, an acid gas from a cement plant, and a gas stream created internally within the gas processing facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of separating an initial gas stream in a gas processing facility, the gas stream comprising a non-absorbing gas and an acid gas, and the method comprising:
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providing at least a first co-current contactor, a second co-current contactor and a final co-current contactor, each of these co-current contactors being configured (i) to receive a gas stream and a liquid solvent, and (ii) to release a sweetened gas stream and a separate loaded gas-treating solution; arranging the first co-current contactor, the second co-current contactor and the final co-current contactor to deliver the respective sweetened gas streams as progressively sweetened gas streams in series; further arranging the final co-current contactor, the second co-current contactor and the first co-current contactor to deliver the respective gas-treating solutions as progressively richer gas-treating solutions in series; delivering a regenerated liquid solvent to the final co-current contactor; and operating the gas processing facility in order to remove acid gas from the initial gas stream and deliver a final sweetened gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A process for removing a gaseous component from a gas stream, comprising:
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(a) passing the gas stream through a first contactor and subsequently passing the gas stream through a second contactor; (b) commingling and contacting the gas stream in the second contactor with a third absorbent liquid, wherein the third absorbent liquid and the gas stream flow co-currently in the second contactor, thereby producing a partially-loaded second absorbent liquid having a second concentration of the gaseous component and producing a gas stream depleted of the gaseous component; (c) recovering the partially-loaded second absorbent liquid from the second contactor; (d) passing a second absorbent liquid to the first contactor and commingling and contacting the gas stream in the first contactor with the second absorbent liquid, wherein; the second absorbent liquid and the gas stream flow co-currently through the first contactor, and the first absorbent liquid comprises at least a portion of the partially-loaded second absorbent liquid, thereby producing a first absorbent liquid having a first concentration of gaseous component, the first concentration of the gaseous component in the first absorbent liquid being higher than the second concentration of the gaseous component in the second absorbent liquid; and (e) recovering the first absorbent liquid from the first contactor. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A process for removing a gaseous component from a gas stream, the process comprising:
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(a) sequentially flowing the gas stream through a series of two or more contactors in a downstream direction; and (b) passing an absorbent liquid through each of the two or more contactors co-currently with the flow of the gas stream in an opposite upstream direction, and recovering from each of the two or more contactors an absorbent liquid effluent stream comprising the gaseous component, wherein; the gas stream is progressively depleted of the gaseous component as the gas stream passes through each of the two or more contactors in the downstream direction, the recovered absorbent liquid from each of the two or more contactors has a progressively higher concentration of the gaseous component in the upstream direction; and at least a portion of the absorbent liquid recovered from one of the two or more contactors is used as the absorbent liquid for at least one contactor upstream of the flow of the gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification