Advanced C2-splitter feed rectifier
First Claim
1. A process to separate one or more light hydrocarbon streams comprising ethylene, ethane, and C3+ hydrocarbons into an ethylene stream, an ethane stream, and a C3+ hydrocarbon stream, comprising:
- feeding the one or more light hydrocarbon streams to a deethanizer;
separating the light hydrocarbons in the deethanizer to form a C3+ hydrocarbon bottoms stream and a C2-rich overhead stream comprising ethylene and ethane;
separating the C2-rich overhead stream in a C2-rectifier to form a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich bottoms stream, wherein the C2-rectifier is operated without reboiling the ethylene introduced to the C2-rectifier;
separating the ethane-rich bottoms stream in a C2-splitter to form a second ethylene stream and an ethane stream; and
mixing the first ethylene stream and the second ethylene stream to form a combined ethylene stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Processes to separate a light hydrocarbon stream comprising ethylene, ethane, and C3+ hydrocarbons into an ethylene stream, an ethane stream, and a C3+ hydrocarbon stream, including: feeding the light hydrocarbon stream to a deethanizer; separating the light hydrocarbons in the deethanizer to form a C3+ hydrocarbon bottoms stream and a C2-rich overhead stream comprising ethylene and ethane; separating the C2-rich stream in a C2-rectifier to form a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich bottoms stream; and separating the ethane-rich bottoms stream in a C2-splitter to form a second ethylene stream and an ethane stream.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process to separate one or more light hydrocarbon streams comprising ethylene, ethane, and C3+ hydrocarbons into an ethylene stream, an ethane stream, and a C3+ hydrocarbon stream, comprising:
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feeding the one or more light hydrocarbon streams to a deethanizer; separating the light hydrocarbons in the deethanizer to form a C3+ hydrocarbon bottoms stream and a C2-rich overhead stream comprising ethylene and ethane; separating the C2-rich overhead stream in a C2-rectifier to form a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich bottoms stream, wherein the C2-rectifier is operated without reboiling the ethylene introduced to the C2-rectifier; separating the ethane-rich bottoms stream in a C2-splitter to form a second ethylene stream and an ethane stream; and mixing the first ethylene stream and the second ethylene stream to form a combined ethylene stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method to retrofit a process to separate light hydrocarbons comprising operation of a deethanizer to separate the light hydrocarbons into a C3+ hydrocarbon bottoms stream and a C2-rich overheads stream comprising ethylene and ethane, and a C2-splitter to separate the C2-rich overheads into an ethylene stream and an ethane stream, wherein the ethylene is condensed and collected in a C2-splitter overheads condensation system, and wherein the C2-splitter is capacity-limited, the method comprising:
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installing a C2-rectifier to separate the C2-rich overheads stream from the deethanizer into a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich stream, wherein the C2-rectifier is operated without reboiling the ethylene introduced to the C2-rectifier; installing a line to transmit the C2-rich overheads stream to the C2-rectifier; installing a line to transmit the ethane-rich stream from the C2-rectifier to the C2-splitter; and installing a line to transmit the first ethylene stream to the C2-splitter overheads condensation system such that the first ethylene stream mixes with the ethylene stream from the C2-splitter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for olefin production, comprising:
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separating one or more light hydrocarbon streams comprising ethylene, ethane, and one or more C3+ hydrocarbons into a C2 hydrocarbon-containing stream and a C3+ hydrocarbon-containing stream; rectifying the C2 hydrocarbon-containing stream in a C2-rectifier into a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich bottoms stream by contacting the C2 hydrocarbon-containing stream with a liquid, ethylene rich stream, wherein the C2-rectifier is operated without reboiling the ethylene introduced to the C2-rectifier; separating the ethane-rich bottoms stream to form a second ethylene stream and an ethane stream; mixing the first ethylene stream and the second ethylene stream to form a combined ethylene stream; and condensing the combined ethylene stream to provide an ethylene condensate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification