Gas separation process
First Claim
1. In a process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the feed gas stream to a suitable temperature for separation into an absorber gas stream and a first liquid stream in a separator/absorber with the absorber gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and the first liquid stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components, the first liquid stream being charged to a deethanizer from which a bottoms liquid product comprising primarily the C3 and heavier components is recovered with the deethanizer overhead consisting primarily of C2 and lighter components, the improvement comprising:
- a) cooling the deethanizer overhead to produce a partially condensed stream;
b) separating the cooled deethanizer overhead stream into a liquid stream comprising principally C2 components and a residue gas stream; and
, c) cooling a portion of the liquid stream in heat exchange with the absorber gas stream to produce a subcooled liquid stream and passing the subcooled liquid stream to an upper portion of the separator/absorber for contact with a gas stream rising through the separator/absorber to absorb C3 and heavier components therefrom.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the feed gas stream and charging it to a separator/absorber where the gas stream is separated into a first gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components with a minor content of C3 and heavier components and a first liquid stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components with a lesser concentration of C2 and lighter components with the first liquid stream being fractionated in a deethanizer into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream with the bottoms stream containing primarily C3 and heavier components with the overhead stream containing primarily C2 and lighter components being at least partially condensed and separated into a liquid reflux stream, a second liquid stream and a vaporous stream. The second liquid stream is passed to an upper portion of the separator/absorber for use therein to absorb C3 and heavier components from a gas stream in the separator/absorber.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the feed gas stream to a suitable temperature for separation into an absorber gas stream and a first liquid stream in a separator/absorber with the absorber gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and the first liquid stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components, the first liquid stream being charged to a deethanizer from which a bottoms liquid product comprising primarily the C3 and heavier components is recovered with the deethanizer overhead consisting primarily of C2 and lighter components, the improvement comprising:
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a) cooling the deethanizer overhead to produce a partially condensed stream;
b) separating the cooled deethanizer overhead stream into a liquid stream comprising principally C2 components and a residue gas stream; and
,c) cooling a portion of the liquid stream in heat exchange with the absorber gas stream to produce a subcooled liquid stream and passing the subcooled liquid stream to an upper portion of the separator/absorber for contact with a gas stream rising through the separator/absorber to absorb C3 and heavier components therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components, the process comprising:
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a) cooling the feed gas stream to a temperature sufficient to condense the majority of the C3 components in the feed gas stream by heat exchange with at least one of a first liquid stream containing C3 and heavier components and a refrigerant stream to produce a cooled feed gas stream;
b) passing the cooled feed gas stream to a separator/absorber to produce the first liquid stream as a bottoms product and a separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream;
c) passing the first liquid stream to a deethanizer tower operating at a pressure at least 25 psi above the pressure in the separator/absorber;
d) separating the first liquid stream into a deethanizer bottoms stream containing a majority of the C3 and heavier components and a deethanizer overhead gas stream;
e) cooling the deethanizer overhead gas stream to partially condense the deethanizer overhead gas stream by heat exchange with a refrigerant stream to produce a deethanizer liquid reflux stream, a second liquid stream and a deethanizer residue gas stream; and
,f) cooling the second liquid stream by heat exchange with the separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream to produce a subcooled second liquid stream and passing the subcooled second liquid stream into an upper portion of the separator/absorber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components, the process comprising:
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a) cooling the feed gas stream to a temperature sufficient to condense the majority of the C3 components in the feed gas stream by heat exchange with at least one of a first liquid stream containing C3 and heavier components, a second liquid stream containing C3 and heavier components, a residue gas stream, and a refrigerant stream to produce a cooled feed gas stream;
b) passing the cooled feed gas stream to a separator to produce a separator gas stream and the first liquid stream;
c) optionally further cooling the separator gas stream by heat exchange or expansion and passing it to a separator/absorber wherein a second liquid stream is produced as a bottoms stream and wherein a separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream is produced;
d) passing the first liquid stream and the second liquid stream to a deethanizer tower operating at a pressure at least 25 psi above the separator/absorber pressure;
e) separating the first and the second liquid streams into a deethanizer bottoms stream containing a majority of the C3 and heavier components and a deethanizer overhead gas stream;
f) cooling the deethanizer overhead gas stream to partially condense the deethanizer overhead gas stream by heat exchange with a refrigerant stream to produce a deethanizer liquid reflux stream, a third liquid stream and a deethanizer residue gas stream; and
,g) cooling the third liquid stream by heat exchange with the separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream to produce a subcooled third liquid stream and passing the subcooled third liquid stream into an upper portion of the separator/absorber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components, the process comprising:
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a) cooling the feed gas stream to a temperature sufficient to condense the majority of the C3 components in the feed gas stream by heat exchange with at least one of a first liquid stream containing C3 and heavier components, a second liquid stream containing C3 and heavier components, a residue gas stream, and a refrigerant stream to produce a cooled gas stream;
b) passing the cooled gas stream to a first separator to produce a first separator gas stream and a first separator liquid stream;
c) optionally further cooling the first separator gas stream by heat exchange or expansion and passing it to a separator/absorber wherein the second liquid stream is produced as a bottoms stream and wherein a separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream is produced;
d) passing the first separator liquid stream to a second separator at a lower pressure than the first separator and separating a second separator residue gas stream and a second separator liquid stream;
e) passing the first separator liquid stream and the second separator liquid stream to a deethanizer tower operating at a pressure at least 25 psi above the separator/absorber pressure;
f) separating the first and the second separator liquid streams into a deethanizer bottoms stream containing a majority of the C3 and heavier components and a deethanizer overhead gas stream;
g) cooling the deethanizer overhead gas stream to partially condense the deethanizer overhead gas stream by heat exchange with a refrigerant stream to produce a deethanizer liquid reflux stream, a third liquid stream and a deethanizer residue gas stream; and
,j) cooling the third liquid stream by heat exchange with the separator/absorber overhead residue gas stream to produce a subcooled third liquid stream and passing the subcooled third liquid stream into an upper portion of the separator/absorber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification