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Process for the recovery of ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components from methane-rich gases

  • US 4,203,742 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1978
  • Issued: 05/20/1980
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a methane-rich gas which comprises:

  • (a) passing said gas through a series of at least two indirect cooling stages whereby partial liquefaction of said gas takes place,(b) separating the liquid and remaining vapors leaving each indirect cooling stage,(c) vaporizing a portion of each of the liquids so formed by passing said liquids through pressure reduction stages,(d) separating the vapors from the liquids remaining,(e) passing the vapor from the last cooling stage through an expansion turbine whereby part of said vapor is liquefied,(f) separating said liquid and remaining vapor,(g) passing the liquid remaining after the last liquid pressure reduction stage in heat exchanger relation with a portion of the already partly cooled feed vapor thereby vaporizing a portion of said liquid and forming therefrom a mixture of vapor and liquid, and(h) passing said mixture of vapor and liquid, the liquid from the separator after the expansion turbine and the liquid from the separator following the first liquid pressure reduction stage as separate feed streams to a demethanizer tower, said tower operating at a pressure level intermediate the inlet feed gas pressure and the pressure at the outlet of the expansion turbine.

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