Process for separating selected components from multi-component natural gas streams
First Claim
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1. A method of separating a mixture of gases, one of which is a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
- contacting the mixture of gases with an aqueous liquid; and
controlling the temperature and/or pressure during said contact such that the temperature of the liquid and gases during contact is slightly above the catastrophic temperature and within about 20°
C. above the catastrophic temperature to selectively retain one or more of the gases.
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Abstract
A process for separating components of gas mixtures which have different hydrate forming characteristics which uses an aqueous liquid to absorb one of the gases preferentially by attaining conditions slightly above the catastrophic point at which gas hydrates form. Specifically, the separation of gas mixtures containing light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide is accomplished without significantly reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide or without requiring significant amounts of heat energy for regeneration.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of separating a mixture of gases, one of which is a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
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contacting the mixture of gases with an aqueous liquid; and controlling the temperature and/or pressure during said contact such that the temperature of the liquid and gases during contact is slightly above the catastrophic temperature and within about 20°
C. above the catastrophic temperature to selectively retain one or more of the gases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for removing carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon gas stream containing about 4 to about 90% carbon dioxide, the process comprising:
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contacting said carbon dioxide containing hydrocarbon gas stream with an aqueous solution comprising a water soluble salt in water up to the solubility limits; and controlling the pressure and/or the temperature such that the temperature of the aqueous solution and gas stream during the contacting is slightly above the catastrophic temperature and within about 20°
C. above the catastrophic temperature to selectively retain the carbon dioxide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of separating a mixture of gases, one of which is a hydrocarbon gas, comprising:
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introducing an aqueous solution of water soluble salt and water into an absorption column; introducing the mixture of gases into the absorption column; controlling the temperature and pressure within said column such that the temperature is slightly above the catastrophic temperature and within about 20°
C. above the catastrophic temperature to selectively retain one gas from the mixture of gases without forming solid hydrate structures; andseparating the aqueous solution and the selectively retained gas from the gases not retained whereby a substantial separation of at least one gas from the mixture of gases occurs. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification