Split feed compression process for high recovery of ethane and heavier components
First Claim
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1. A process for recovering relatively less volatile components from a gas mixture while rejecting relatively more volatile components as residue gas via a cryogenic distillation column wherein its reflux stream is generated by the steps comprising:
- a) dividing a vapor portion of said gas mixture into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream;
b) compressing said first gaseous stream and cooling it to produce a cooled, compressed first gaseous stream;
c) further handling cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as selected from the group consisting of i) feeding cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as a reflux stream directly to said cryogenic distillation column, and ii) further processing cooled, compressed first gaseous stream to generate at least one reflux stream for said cryogenic distillation column; and
d) cooling said main gaseous stream and separating it into a first liquid phase comprising condensed components, if any, and into a first vapor phase; and
thereafter introducing said first liquid phase and said first vapor phase into said cryogenic distillation column at one or more feed trays.
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Abstract
A process for enhancing recovery of ethylene, ethane and heavier components using a cryogenic distillation column which involves dividing the feed gas into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream. The first gaseous stream is compressed and cooled, and then expanded and introduced into the cryogenic distillation column as main reflux stream, or is further processed to generate at least one reflux stream to the cryogenic distillation column.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for recovering relatively less volatile components from a gas mixture while rejecting relatively more volatile components as residue gas via a cryogenic distillation column wherein its reflux stream is generated by the steps comprising:
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a) dividing a vapor portion of said gas mixture into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream;
b) compressing said first gaseous stream and cooling it to produce a cooled, compressed first gaseous stream;
c) further handling cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as selected from the group consisting of i) feeding cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as a reflux stream directly to said cryogenic distillation column, and ii) further processing cooled, compressed first gaseous stream to generate at least one reflux stream for said cryogenic distillation column; and
d) cooling said main gaseous stream and separating it into a first liquid phase comprising condensed components, if any, and into a first vapor phase; and
thereafter introducing said first liquid phase and said first vapor phase into said cryogenic distillation column at one or more feed trays.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for recovering relatively less volatile components from a gas mixture while rejecting relatively more volatile components as residue gas via a cryogenic distillation column wherein its reflux stream is generated by the steps comprising:
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a) cooling said gas mixture and thereafter separating said cooled gas mixture into a first vapor stream and a condensed gas mixture stream, if any;
b) dividing said first vapor stream into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream;
c) compressing said first gaseous stream and then cooling it to produce a cooled, compressed first gaseous stream; and
d) further handling cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as selected from the group consisting of i) feeding cooled, compressed first gaseous stream as a reflux stream directly to said cryogenic distillation column, and ii) further processing cooled, compressed first gaseous stream to generate at least one reflux stream for said cryogenic distillation column. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In an apparatus for recovering relatively less volatile components from a gas mixture while rejecting relatively more volatile components as residue gas via a cryogenic distillation column, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for dividing a vapor portion of said gas mixture into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream;
b) a compressor for increasing the pressure of said first gaseous stream;
c) means for cooling and at least partially condensing said compressed first gaseous stream;
d) a cryogenic distillation column having a plurality of feed trays and recovery stages, which receives said cooled, compressed, at least partially condensed first gaseous stream as reflux stream to enhance recovery of relatively less volatile components;
e) means for cooling said main gaseous stream;
f) a separator for separating said cooled main gaseous stream into a first liquid phase comprising condensed components, if any, and into a first vapor phase; and
g) means for introducing said first liquid phase and said first vapor phase into said cryogenic distillation column at one or more feed trays;
where the c) means for cooling and condensing said compressed first gaseous stream may be the same or different as e). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. In an apparatus for recovering relatively less volatile components from a gas mixture while rejecting relatively more volatile components as residue gas via a cryogenic distillation column, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for cooling said gas mixture;
b) a separator for separating said cooled gas mixture into a first vapor stream and a condensed gas mixture stream, if any;
c) means for dividing said first vapor stream into a first gaseous stream and a main gaseous stream;
d) a compressor for increasing the pressure of said first gaseous stream;
e) means for cooling and at least partially condensing said compressed first gaseous stream; and
f) a cryogenic distillation column having a plurality of feed trays and recovery stages, which receives said cooled, compressed, partially condensed first gaseous stream as reflux stream to enhance recovery of relatively less volatile components. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification