METHOD FOR PRODUCING A C3+ HYDROCARBON-RICH FRACTION AND A METHANE- AND ETHANE-RICH STREAM FROM A HYDROCARBON-RICH FEED STREAM, AND RELATED FACILITY
First Claim
1. A method for producing a C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane- and ethane-rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising the following steps:
- partially cooling and condensing a first fraction of the feed stream in a first heat exchanger;
injecting the first cooled fraction into a first separating flask to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream;
injecting at least part of the first headstream into a first dynamic expansion turbine;
forming a first feed stream of a first column from the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine and injecting the first feed stream into the lower part of a first column to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream;
heating at least part of the first headstream in a second heat exchanger, then in the first heat exchanger, and compressing at least part of the heated headstream in a first compressor coupled to the first turbine, then in a second compressor to form the methane- and ethane-rich stream;
injecting the first bottoms stream into a second fractionating column to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream;
forming the C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut from the second bottoms stream;
at least partially cooling and condensing the second headstream, advantageously in the first heat exchanger, and injecting the second partially condensed headstream into a head separating flask to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream;
injecting the second liquid bottoms stream in reflux into the second fractionating column;
at least partially cooling and condensing the second gas headstream, advantageously in the second heat exchanger;
expanding the second partially condensed headstream and injecting into the first column;
injecting at least part of the first bottoms stream into the first column and/or into the second fractionating column;
separating the feed stream into the first fraction of the feed stream and a second fraction of the feed stream;
injecting at least part of the second fraction of the feed stream into a second dynamic expansion turbine to form a second expanded fraction;
cooling at least part of the second expanded fraction by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column;
forming a second feed stream of the first column from the second cooled expanded fraction; and
injecting the second feed stream into the first column.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method according to the invention comprises the separation of a feed stream (16) into a first fraction (60) and a second fraction (62) and the injection of at least part of the second fraction (62) into a second dynamic expansion turbine (46) to form a second expanded fraction (80).
It comprises the cooling of the second expanded fraction (80) through heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream (84) coming from a first column (28) and the formation of a second feed stream (82) of the first column (28) from the second cooled expanded fraction.
6 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for producing a C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane- and ethane-rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising the following steps:
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partially cooling and condensing a first fraction of the feed stream in a first heat exchanger; injecting the first cooled fraction into a first separating flask to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream; injecting at least part of the first headstream into a first dynamic expansion turbine; forming a first feed stream of a first column from the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine and injecting the first feed stream into the lower part of a first column to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream; heating at least part of the first headstream in a second heat exchanger, then in the first heat exchanger, and compressing at least part of the heated headstream in a first compressor coupled to the first turbine, then in a second compressor to form the methane- and ethane-rich stream; injecting the first bottoms stream into a second fractionating column to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream; forming the C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut from the second bottoms stream; at least partially cooling and condensing the second headstream, advantageously in the first heat exchanger, and injecting the second partially condensed headstream into a head separating flask to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream; injecting the second liquid bottoms stream in reflux into the second fractionating column; at least partially cooling and condensing the second gas headstream, advantageously in the second heat exchanger; expanding the second partially condensed headstream and injecting into the first column; injecting at least part of the first bottoms stream into the first column and/or into the second fractionating column; separating the feed stream into the first fraction of the feed stream and a second fraction of the feed stream; injecting at least part of the second fraction of the feed stream into a second dynamic expansion turbine to form a second expanded fraction; cooling at least part of the second expanded fraction by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column; forming a second feed stream of the first column from the second cooled expanded fraction; and injecting the second feed stream into the first column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A piece of equipment for producing a C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane-rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the equipment comprising:
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a first heat exchanger to partially cool and condense a first fraction of the feed stream; a first separating flask and means for injecting the first cooled fraction into the first separating flask to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream; a first dynamic expansion turbine and means for injecting at least part of the first headstream into the first dynamic expansion turbine; a first column; means for forming a first feed stream of the first column from the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine and means for injecting the first feed stream into the lower part of the first column to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream; a second heat exchanger for heating at least part of the first headstream; and a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic expansion turbine and a second compressor to compress the heated headstream so as to form the methane-rich stream; a second fractionating column and means for injecting at least part of the first bottoms stream into the second fractionating column to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream; means for forming the C3+ hydrocarbon-rich cut from the second bottoms stream; means for at least partially cooling and condensing the second headstream, advantageously comprising the first heat exchanger; a head separating flask and means for injecting the second partially condensed headstream into the head separating flask to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream; means for injecting the second liquid bottoms stream in reflux into the second fractionating column; means for partially cooling and condensing the second headstream advantageously in the second exchanger; means for expanding the second partially condensed headstream and means for injecting into the first column in reflux; means for injecting at least part of the first bottoms stream into the first column and/or into the second fractionating column; means for separating the feed stream into a first fraction of the feed stream and a second fraction of the feed stream; a second dynamic expansion turbine and means for injecting at least part of the second fraction of the feed stream into the second dynamic expansion turbine to form a second expanded fraction; means for cooling at least part of the second expanded fraction by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column; means for forming a second feed stream of the first column from the second cooled expansion fraction; and means for injecting the second feed stream into the first column. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification