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Hydrocarbon gas processing

  • US 5,771,712 A
  • Filed: 08/13/1996
  • Issued: 06/30/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction containing a major portion of said methane and C2 components and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process(a) said gas stream is treated in one or more heat exchange and/or expansion steps to partially condense at least a portion thereof and provide thereby at least a first vapor stream and at least one first C3 -containing liquid stream which also contains lighter hydrocarbons;

  • and(b) at least one of said first C3 -containing liquid streams is directed into a distillation column wherein said liquid is separated into a second vapor stream containing predominantly methane and C2 components and said relatively less volatile fraction containing the major portion of said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components;

    the improvement wherein(1) said second vapor stream is cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream;

    (2) a portion of said condensed stream is supplied to said distillation column at a top feed position;

    (3) at least a portion of said first vapor stream is intimately contacted with at least part of the remaining portion of said condensed stream in a contacting device having no more than one fractionation zone, thereby forming a third vapor stream and a second C3 -containing liquid stream;

    (4) said second C3 -containing liquid stream is supplied to said distillation column as a second feed thereto;

    (5) at least a portion of said third vapor stream is directed into heat exchange relation with said second vapor stream, thereby to supply the cooling of step (1) and thereafter discharging at least a portion of said third vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;

    (6) said first C3 -containing liquid stream is heated and supplied to said distillation column as a third feed thereto; and

    (7) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portion of said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components is recovered in said relatively less volatile fraction.

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