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Thermodynamic separation of heavier components from natural gas

  • US 6,182,468 B1
  • Filed: 02/22/1999
  • Issued: 02/06/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of separating heavier components from natural gas comprising:

  • providing a distillation tower arrangement for separating the heavier components discharged at the bottom of the tower arrangement from lighter gas discharged at the top of the tower arrangement;

    generating a residue gas stream from the lighter gas components for supply at a residue gas pressure to a downstream process;

    providing a feed gas containing the components under a feed pressure;

    separating the feed gas into a first proportion and a second proportion, where neither proportion is zero;

    feeding the first proportion at the feed pressure to the distillation tower arrangement at a feed position thereon between the top and bottom thereof for separation within the distillation tower arrangement;

    compressing the second proportion to an increased pressure higher than the feed pressure, the increased pressure being selected to provide a desired operating pressure in the distillation tower arrangement and being different from the residue gas pressure;

    extracting heat from the compressed second proportion to effect condensation thereof;

    sub-cooling the compressed condensed second proportion;

    expanding the compressed condensed second proportion and supplying the second proportion after expansion to the distillation tower arrangement at a position thereon adjacent the top of the distillation tower arrangement so as to cause cooling of the materials in the distillation tower arrangement.

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