Method for producing a C3+ hydrocarbon-rich fraction and a methane- and ethane-rich stream from a hydrocarbon-rich feed stream, and related facility

• US 9,638,462 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technip France (Technip)
• Original Assignee: Technip France (Technip)
• Inventors: Gouriou, Julie, Gahier, Vanessa, Thiebault, Sandra, Barthe, Loic
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/978,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 7/005 Processes comprising at least two steps in series
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 7/04 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 7/09 by fractional condensation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/08 Propane
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/10 with four carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 5/06 by cooling or compressing
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0022 Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/04 in a dual pressure main column system
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/08 in a triple pressure main column system
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/74 Refluxing the column with at least a part of the partially condensed overhead gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/78 Refluxing the column with a liquid stream originating from an upstream or downstream fractionator column
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2205/04 in the feed line, i.e. upstream of the fractionation step
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2210/06 Splitting of the feed stream, e.g. for treating or cooling in different ways
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/24 Multiple compressors or compressor stages in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/32 Compression of the product stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/60 the fluid being hydrocarbons or a mixture of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2235/60 the fluid being (a mixture of) hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2240/02 Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2245/02 Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/04 : Internal refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/80 : Retrofitting, revamping or debottlenecking of existing plant
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0209 : Natural gas or substitute natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0233 : separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0242 : separation of CnHm with 3 carbon atoms or more

Abstract

The method according to the invention comprises the separation of a feed stream (16) into a first fraction (60) and a second fraction (62) and the injection of at least part of the second fraction (62) into a second dynamic expansion turbine (46) to form a second expanded fraction (80).

It comprises the cooling of the second expanded fraction (80) through heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream (84) coming from a first column (28) and the formation of a second feed stream (82) of the first column (28) from the second cooled expanded fraction.

Claims

1. A method for producing a C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane- and ethane-rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising:

partially cooling and condensing a first fraction of the feed stream in a first heat exchanger to form a first cooled fraction;

injecting the first cooled fraction into a first separating flask to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream;

injecting at least part of the first headstream into a first dynamic expansion turbine;

forming a first feed stream of a first column from the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine and injecting the first feed stream into the lower part of a first column to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream;

heating at least part of the first headstream in a second heat exchanger then in the first heat exchanger, and compressing at least part of the heated headstream in a first compressor coupled to the first turbine, then in a second compressor to form the methane- and ethane-rich stream;

injecting the first bottoms stream into a second fractionating column to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream;

forming the C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut from the second bottoms stream;

at least partially cooling and condensing the second headstream, advantageously in the first heat exchanger, and injecting the second partially condensed headstream into a head separating flask to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream;

injecting the second liquid bottoms stream in reflux into the second fractionating column;

at least partially cooling and condensing the second gas headstream, advantageously in the second heat exchanger;

expanding the second partially condensed headstream and injecting into the first column;

injecting at least part of the first bottoms stream into the first column and/or into the second fractionating column;

separating the feed stream into the first fraction of the feed stream and a second fraction of the feed stream;

injecting at least part of the second fraction of the feed stream into a second dynamic expansion turbine to form a second expanded fraction;

cooling at least part of the second expanded fraction by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column;

forming a second feed stream of the first column from the second cooled expanded fraction; and

injecting the second feed stream into the first column.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second expanded fraction coming from the second dynamic expansion turbine is put in a heat exchange relationship with at least part of the second headstream, advantageously in the second heat exchanger.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first expanded fraction coming from the first turbine is cooled by heat exchange with at least a part of the first headstream, advantageously in the second heat exchanger, before injection into the first column.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fraction of the feed stream is cooled and is partially condensed advantageously in the first heat exchanger, the second cooled and partially condensed fraction being injected into a second separating flask, the third headstream coming from the second separating flask being at least partially injected into the second dynamic expansion turbine.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the third bottoms stream coming from the separating flask is expanded, and is heated, advantageously in the first heat exchanger, then is injected into the first column and/or into the second fractionating column.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a fraction coming from the first bottoms stream recovered from the first separating flask is injected into a liquid stream formed from the second fraction of the feed stream.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

expansion, heating, and partial evaporation of the first bottoms stream coming from the first separating flask;

injection of the first bottoms stream into a downstream separating flask to form a fourth bottoms stream and a fourth headstream, the fourth headstream being cooled, advantageously in the second heat exchanger, then being injected into the first column to form a second auxiliary feed stream.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

injecting the second expanded fraction coming from the second dynamic expansion turbine into an auxiliary downstream separating flask to form a fifth gas headstream and a fifth liquid bottoms stream;

cooling the fifth gas headstream and injecting into the first column;

injecting the fifth liquid bottoms stream into the first column and/or into the second column.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first bottoms stream coming from the first separating flask is heated in the first heat exchanger, before being injected into the second fractionating column.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

separating the first headstream into a first turbine feed fraction, conveyed up to the first dynamic expansion turbine, and a column feed fraction that is injected into the second heat exchanger to form an auxiliary column feed stream;

injecting the auxiliary column feed stream into the first column.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

removing, in the first headstream, a secondary recompression fraction upstream of the first compressor;

passage of the secondary recompression fraction into a third compressor coupled to the second dynamic expansion turbine;

injecting the secondary compressed recompression fraction coming from the third compressor into the first heated headstream downstream of the first compressor.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second compressor comprises a first compression stage, at least one second compression stage and a refrigerant inserted between the first compression stage and the second compression stage, the method comprising a step for the passage of the first compressed overhead stream coming from the first compressor successively in the first compression stage, the refrigerant, then the second compression stage.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

injecting at least part of the second expanded fraction coming from the second dynamic expansion turbine into an auxiliary column;

recovering a third bottoms stream coming from the auxiliary column,

forming the second column feed stream from the third auxiliary column bottoms stream.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

separating the feed stream into the first fraction of the feed stream, the second fraction of the feed stream, and a third fraction of the feed stream;

cooling the third fraction of the feed stream by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column, advantageously in an upstream heat exchanger separate from the second heat exchanger, and

mixing the third fraction of the cooled feed stream in the first fraction of the cooled feed stream, before passage in the first separating flask.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

passage of the first headstream into the first heat exchanger;

removal of an auxiliary expansion stream in the first headstream, after its passage in the first heat exchanger;

dynamic expansion of the auxiliary expansion stream in an auxiliary dynamic expansion turbine;

injection of the expanded stream coming from the auxiliary dynamic expansion turbine into the first headstream, before its passage in the first heat exchanger.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

removing a recirculation stream in the first headstream or in a stream formed from the first headstream;

expansion and injection of the expanded recirculation stream in a stream circulating upstream of the first dynamic expansion turbine, advantageously in the first fraction of the first cooled feed stream or in the first turbine feed stream.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises pumping the first bottoms stream and heating the first bottoms stream in the first heat exchanger before it is injected into the second fractionating column.

18. A piece of equipment for producing a C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane-rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the equipment comprising:

a first heat exchanger to partially cool and condense a first fraction of the feed stream to provide a first cooled fraction;

a first separating flask for receiving the first cooled fraction to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream;

a first dynamic expansion turbine for receiving at least part of the first gas headstream to provide a first expanded fraction;

a first column for receiving a first feed stream formed by at least a portion of the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine in a lower part of the first column and for receiving at least a part of first liquid bottoms stream to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream;

a second heat exchanger for heating at least part of the first headstream; and

a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic expansion turbine and a second compressor to compress the heated headstream so as to form the methane-rich stream;

a second fractionating column for receiving at least part of the first bottoms stream and at least a part of first liquid bottoms stream to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream that provides the C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut;

wherein the first heat exchanger partially cools and condenses the second headstream;

a head separating flask for receiving the second partially condensed headstream to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream that is returned in reflux to the second fractionating column;

wherein the second heat exchanger partially cools and condenses the second gas headstream;

an expansion valve for expanding the second partially condensed gas headstream before the second partially condensed gas headstream is returned to the first column in reflux;

a second dynamic expansion turbine for receiving at least part of a second fraction of the feed stream to form a second expanded fraction; and

wherein the second heat exchanger cools at least part of the second expanded fraction which forms a second feed stream to the first column.

19. A piece of equipment for producing a C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut and a methane rich stream, from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons, the equipment comprising:

a first heat exchanger to partially cool and condense a first fraction of the feed stream to provide a first cooled fraction;

a first separating flask for receiving the first cooled fraction to form a first gas headstream and a first liquid bottoms stream;

a first dynamic expansion turbine for receiving at least part of the first gas headstream to provide a first expanded fraction;

a first column for receiving a first feed stream formed by at least a portion of the first expanded fraction coming from the first dynamic expansion turbine in a lower part of the first column and for receiving at least a part of first liquid bottoms stream to recover a first headstream and a first bottoms stream;

a second heat exchanger for heating at least part of the first headstream; and

a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic expansion turbine and a second compressor to compress the heated headstream so as to form the methane-rich stream;

a second fractionating column for receiving at least part of the first bottoms stream and at least a part of first liquid bottoms stream to recover a second headstream and a second bottoms stream that provides the C₃⁺ hydrocarbon-rich cut;

wherein the first heat exchanger partially cools and condenses the second headstream;

a head separating flask for receiving the second partially condensed headstream to form a second gas headstream and a second liquid bottoms stream that is returned in reflux to the second fractionating column;

wherein the second heat exchanger partially cools and condenses the second gas headstream;

an expansion valve for expanding the second partially condensed gas headstream before the second partially condensed gas headstream is returned to the first column in reflux;

a second dynamic expansion turbine for receiving at least part of a second fraction of the feed stream to form a second expanded fraction; and

a downstream heat exchanger cools at least part of the second expanded fraction by heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream coming from the first column,

which forms a second feed stream to the first column.

20. The equipment according to claim 19, further comprising:

an auxiliary column;

for receiving at least part of the second expanded fraction from the second dynamic expansion turbine, to provide a third bottoms stream that is utilized as the second feed stream of the first column.