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Ethane recovery process

  • US 5,953,935 A
  • Filed: 11/04/1997
  • Issued: 09/21/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In an ethane recovery system, an apparatus comprising:

  • separating means constructed to receive a cooled natural feed gas stream, said separating means dividing the cooled natural feed gas stream into an upper vapor stream and a lower liquid stream;

    dividing means connected to said separating means and receiving said upper vapor stream therefrom, said dividing means dividing the vapor stream into three streams, a first, a second, and a third vapor streams;

    distilling means located downstream from said separating means and said dividing means, said distilling means providing a bottom ethane product stream and an upper methane residue gas stream, said distilling means being connected to said separating means and receiving said lower liquid stream in a middle region of said distilling means, said distilling means further receiving said first vapor stream from said separating means in an upper mid-section region thereof;

    fractionating means connected to said separating means and to said distilling means , said fractionating means receiving said second and third vapor streams for separating methane therefrom and providing a bottom stream as a top reflux to said distilling means.

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