Propane recovery process
First Claim
1. In a propane recovery process, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an absorber for receiving a natural gas stream and passing it upwardly therethrough, said absorber separating the natural gas stream into an upper gas stream and a bottom liquid stream;
providing an expander downstream from said absorber for receiving and expanding the upper gas stream from said absorber;
locating a separator downstream from said expander for receiving a liquid-gas stream from expansion with said expander;
separating the liquid-gas stream with said separator into an upper gas stream and a lower liquid stream;
removing the liquid stream from said separator;
returning said liquid stream from said separator to said absorber which is positioned upstream from said separator and injecting it into an upper region of said absorber, said liquid stream being passed downwardly in said absorber for absorbing propane and heavier hydrocarbon compounds in said absorber;
removing the upper gas stream from said separator for compression into a residue gas;
delivering the bottom liquid stream from said absorber to distilling means located downstream from said separator for generating a bottom propane rich liquid product stream and an upper methane and ethane gas stream; and
removing the bottom propane rich liquid product stream from said distilling means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Increased recovery of propane, butane and other heavier components found in a natural gas stream is achieved by installing an absorber upstream from an expander and a separator. The separator is downstream from the expander and returns the liquid stream generated by the separator back to the absorber. Additionally, the recovery of propane, butane and other heavier components is enhanced by combining the upper gas stream from a distillation column with the upper gas stream from the absorber prior to injecting this combination into the separator. The upper gas stream removed from the separator is then subsequently processed for the recovery of a predominately methane and ethane gas stream while the bottom liquid stream from the absorber is subsequently distilled for the generation of a stream consisting predominately of propane, butane and other heavy hydrocarbon components. Alternate embodiments include an additional reflux separator in the system, or substitution of an additional absorber for the separator.
137 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a propane recovery process, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an absorber for receiving a natural gas stream and passing it upwardly therethrough, said absorber separating the natural gas stream into an upper gas stream and a bottom liquid stream; providing an expander downstream from said absorber for receiving and expanding the upper gas stream from said absorber; locating a separator downstream from said expander for receiving a liquid-gas stream from expansion with said expander; separating the liquid-gas stream with said separator into an upper gas stream and a lower liquid stream; removing the liquid stream from said separator; returning said liquid stream from said separator to said absorber which is positioned upstream from said separator and injecting it into an upper region of said absorber, said liquid stream being passed downwardly in said absorber for absorbing propane and heavier hydrocarbon compounds in said absorber; removing the upper gas stream from said separator for compression into a residue gas; delivering the bottom liquid stream from said absorber to distilling means located downstream from said separator for generating a bottom propane rich liquid product stream and an upper methane and ethane gas stream; and removing the bottom propane rich liquid product stream from said distilling means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a propane recovery system, an apparatus comprising:
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an absorber for receiving a natural feed gas stream, said absorber providing a downwardly flowing liquid stream for absorbing propane and heavier hydrocarbon compounds therein, said absorber passing the natural feed gas stream upwardly in a counter current manner for providing an upper methane and ethane gas stream; expansion means positioned downstream from said absorber, said expansion means receiving the upper methane and ethane gas stream for expanding the upper methane and ethane gas stream to produce a liquid-gas stream; means for separating situated downstream from said expansion means, said separating means receiving the liquid-gas stream therefrom and dividing the liquid-gas stream into an upper gas stream and a lower liquid stream, said absorber receiving the lower liquid stream in an upper region thereof; compression means located downstream from said separating means, said compression means receiving the upper gas stream from said separating means for compressing the upper gas stream into a residue gas; and distilling means located downstream from said absorber and receiving a bottom liquids stream therefrom, said distilling means providing a bottom propane product stream and an upper methane and ethane gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22)
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17. In a propane recovery system, an apparatus comprising:
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a first absorber for receiving a natural feed gas stream on a plurality of absorption stages, said absorber providing a downwardly flowing liquid stream for absorbing propane and heavier hydrocarbon compounds therein, said absorber passing the natural gas feed stream upwardly in a counter current manner for providing an upper methane and ethane gas stream; expansion means positioned downstream from said first absorber, said expansion means receiving the upper methane and ethane gas stream to produce a liquid-gas stream; a second absorber situated downstream from said expansion means, said second absorber receiving the liquid/gas stream therefrom and dividing the liquid/gas stream into an upper gas stream and a lower liquid stream, said first absorber receiving the lower liquid stream in an upper region thereof; compression means located downstream from said second absorber, said compression means receiving the upper gas stream from said second absorber for compressing the upper gas stream into a residue gas stream; and distilling means located downstream from said first absorber and receiving a bottom liquids stream therefrom, said distilling means providing a bottom propane product stream and an upper methane and ethane gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification