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High propane recovery process and configurations

  • US 7,073,350 B2
  • Filed: 04/15/2004
  • Issued: 07/11/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A gas processing plant comprising:

  • a refluxed absorber operating at a first pressure, producing a bottoms product stream and receiving a feedstock and an absorber reflux stream;

    a distillation column fluidly coupled to the absorber, receiving a distillation column feed stream, producing a distillation column overhead stream, and operating at a second pressure that is at least 100 psi lower than the first pressure;

    wherein at least a portion of the bottoms product stream is expanded and provides cooling for at least one of the absorber reflux stream and the distillation column feed stream;

    wherein the distillation column overhead stream is separated into a fluid portion that provides reflux for the distillation column and a gaseous portion that is liquefied and provides the absorber reflux stream;

    wherein the distillation column comprises a de-ethanizer column, and wherein the feedstock is at a pressure of between 1000 psig and 2000 psig;

    wherein the bottoms product stream has a pressure and wherein expanding the bottoms product stream reduces the bottoms product stream pressure in a range of 100–

    250 psi;

    wherein the expanded bottoms product stream further provides cooling for a distillation column overhead stream; and

    wherein at least a portion of the feedstock is expanded in a turboexpander.

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