Configurations and methods of RVP control for C5+ condensates

• US 8,142,648 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mak, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Renee E
• Application Number:
  US12/446,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20100024473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 585/738, 585/800, 208/347, 208/362, 208/369, 196/139, 626/17, 626/18, 626/20, 626/30, 626/31, 203/2
• US Class Current: 208/347
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 7/00 Distillation of hydrocarbon oils
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 7/02 Stabilising gasoline by removing gases by fractioning
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition

Abstract

Controlled RVP C5+ products are produced from feed gas in configurations and methods in which a heavier portion of the feed gas is fractionated into several streams having distinct RVP and in which a C5+ stream is produced from the lighter portion of the feed gas. The so formed streams are then combined to produce C5+ products with controlled RVP. Thus, RVP control is achieved without the need for external products for blending process streams derived from the feed gas.

Claims

1. A plant comprising:

a fractionator configured to receive a C5+ hydrocarbon mixture feed and to produce from the C5+ hydrocarbon mixture an overhead distillate, a mid-stream product, and a bottom product;

a first mixing device that is fluidly coupled to the fractionator and configured to mix the overhead distillate and the bottom product to form a first C5+ product having a controlled RVP;

a second mixing device that is fluidly coupled to the fractionator and a C5+ source, wherein the C5+ source is configured to provide a C5+ stream; and

wherein the second mixing device is configured to mix the mid-stream product and the C5+ stream to form a second C5+ product having a controlled RVP.

2. The plant of claim 1 wherein the C5+ source is a debutanizer, and wherein the C5+ stream is a debutanizer bottom product.

3. The plant of claim 1 further comprising a condensate stabilizer that is configured to form the C5+ hydrocarbon mixture from a high-pressure feed gas.

4. The plant of claim 3 wherein the condensate stabilizer is fluidly coupled to the debutanizer.

5. The plant of claim 4 wherein a natural gas liquids recovery unit is fluidly coupled to and located between the condensate stabilizer and the debutanizer.

6. The plant of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first C5+ product and the mid-stream product has an RVP of between 2 and 8.

7. The plant of claim 1 wherein the second C5+ product has an RVP of less than 12.

8. The plant of claim 1 wherein at least one of the overhead distillate and the C5+ stream has an RVP of at least 12.

9. A method of forming C5+ products having controlled RVP, comprising:

separating a feed gas in a separation unit to thereby form a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction;

processing the gaseous fraction to form a C5+ stream, and processing the liquid fraction in a fractionator to form an overhead distillate, a mid-stream product, and a bottom product;

combining the overhead distillate and the bottom product to form a first C5+ product having controlled RVP; and

combining the mid-stream product and the C5+ stream to form a second C5+ product having controlled RVP.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the separation unit comprises a condensate stabilizer.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the feed gas is a high-pressure feed gas.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of processing the gaseous fraction comprises fractionating NGL from the gaseous fraction in an NGL recovery unit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a debutanizer is fluidly coupled to the NGL recovery unit and provides the C5+ stream.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second C5+ products having controlled RVP are formed in respective first and second mixing devices.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first C5+ product and the mid-stream product has an RVP of between 2 and 8.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the second C5+ product has an RVP of less than 12.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the overhead distillate and the C5+ stream has an RVP of at least 12.