Hydrocarbon gas processing including a single equipment item processing assembly
First Claim
1. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
- (2) said first portion is cooled;
(3) said second portion is cooled;
(4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a cooled gas stream;
(5) said cooled gas stream is divided into first and second streams;
(6) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
(7) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a single equipment item processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means;
(8) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means;
(9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a means for providing heat and mass transfer that is housed in said processing assembly, said means for providing heat and mass transfer being configured to provide heat exchange between(a) said second portion flowing through one pass of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and(b) said distillation liquid stream flowing downward from said second absorbing means,so that said second portion is cooled while heating said distillation liquid stream before it leaves said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein as said distillation liquid stream is heated, a portion of it is vaporized to form stripping vapors that rise upward as the remaining liquid continues flowing downward through said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer provides continuous contact between said stripping vapors and said remaining liquid so that said means for providing heat and mass transfer also functions to provide mass transfer between vapor and liquid phases, stripping said remaining liquid of methane and lighter components; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer supplies at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped remaining liquid from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer does not include external reboilers;
(10) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled;
(11) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means;
(12) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said first absorbing means and heated;
(13) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream;
(14) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction;
(15) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more means for providing heat exchange that is housed in said processing assembly, said one or more means for providing heat exchange being configured to provide heat exchange between(a) said first distillation vapor stream flowing through one pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and(b) said second distillation vapor stream arising from said first absorbing means inside said processing assembly,so that said first distillation vapor stream is cooled to at least partial condensation while heating said second distillation vapor stream, thereby forming said condensed stream and said residual vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(c) said first stream flowing through another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and(d) said combined vapor stream flowing through said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly,so that said first stream is cooled to substantial condensation while heating said combined vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(e) said first portion flowing through a further pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and(f) said heated combined vapor stream arising from said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly,so that said first portion is cooled while further heating said heated combined vapor stream to form said volatile residue gas fraction, and wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange supplies at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (6), and (10);
wherein said one or more heat exchange means does not include external reflux equipment items; and
(16) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means.
87 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein
(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions; -
(2) said first portion is cooled; (3) said second portion is cooled; (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a cooled gas stream; (5) said cooled gas stream is divided into first and second streams; (6) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled; (7) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a single equipment item processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (8) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means; (9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a means for providing heat and mass transfer that is housed in said processing assembly, said means for providing heat and mass transfer being configured to provide heat exchange between (a) said second portion flowing through one pass of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and (b) said distillation liquid stream flowing downward from said second absorbing means, so that said second portion is cooled while heating said distillation liquid stream before it leaves said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein as said distillation liquid stream is heated, a portion of it is vaporized to form stripping vapors that rise upward as the remaining liquid continues flowing downward through said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer provides continuous contact between said stripping vapors and said remaining liquid so that said means for providing heat and mass transfer also functions to provide mass transfer between vapor and liquid phases, stripping said remaining liquid of methane and lighter components; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer supplies at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped remaining liquid from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer does not include external reboilers;(10) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (11) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means; (12) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said first absorbing means and heated; (13) said heated second distillation vapor stream is combined with said residual vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream; (14) said combined vapor stream is heated, thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; (15) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream and said combined vapor stream is accomplished in one or more means for providing heat exchange that is housed in said processing assembly, said one or more means for providing heat exchange being configured to provide heat exchange between (a) said first distillation vapor stream flowing through one pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (b) said second distillation vapor stream arising from said first absorbing means inside said processing assembly, so that said first distillation vapor stream is cooled to at least partial condensation while heating said second distillation vapor stream, thereby forming said condensed stream and said residual vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(c) said first stream flowing through another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (d) said combined vapor stream flowing through said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that said first stream is cooled to substantial condensation while heating said combined vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(e) said first portion flowing through a further pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (f) said heated combined vapor stream arising from said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that said first portion is cooled while further heating said heated combined vapor stream to form said volatile residue gas fraction, and wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange supplies at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (6), and (10);
wherein said one or more heat exchange means does not include external reflux equipment items; and(16) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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9. An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising
(1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions; -
(2) one or more means for providing heat exchange housed in a single equipment item processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it; (3) means for providing heat and mass transfer housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it; (4) first combining means connected to said one or more means for providing heat exchange and said means for providing heat and mass transfer to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a cooled gas stream; (5) second dividing means connected to said first combining means to receive said cooled gas stream and divide it into first and second streams; (6) said one or more means for providing heat exchange being further connected to said second dividing means to receive said first stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it; (7) first expansion means connected to said one or more means for providing heat exchange to receive said substantially condensed first stream and expand it to lower pressure; (8) first and second absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream as a feed thereto between said first and second absorbing means, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (9) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said second absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a bottom feed thereto; (10) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said second absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said second absorbing means; (11) said means for providing heat and mass transfer being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, said means for providing heat and mass transfer being configured to provide heat exchange between (a) said second portion flowing through one pass of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and (b) said distillation liquid stream flowing downward from said second absorbing means, so that said second portion is cooled while heating said distillation liquid stream before it leaves said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein as said distillation liquid stream is heated, a portion of it is vaporized to form stripping vapors that rise upward as the remaining liquid continues flowing downward through said means for providing heat and mass transfer, and wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer provides continuous contact between said stripping vapors and said remaining liquid so that said means for providing heat and mass transfer also functions to provide mass transfer between vapor and liquid phases, stripping said remaining liquid of methane and lighter components; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer supplies at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped remaining liquid from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer does not include external reboilers;(12) first vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said means for providing heat and mass transfer to receive a first distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said means for providing heat and mass transfer; (13) said one or more means for providing heat exchange being further connected to said first vapor collecting means to receive said first distillation vapor stream and cool it sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, thereby forming a condensed stream and a residual vapor stream containing any uncondensed vapor remaining after said first distillation vapor stream is cooled; (14) said first absorbing means being further connected to said one or more means for providing heat exchange to receive at least a portion of said condensed stream as a top feed thereto; (15) second vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first absorbing means to receive a second distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said first absorbing means; (16) said one or more means for providing heat exchange being further connected to said second vapor collecting means to receive said second distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (13); (17) second combining means connected to said one or more means for providing heat exchange to receive said heated second distillation vapor stream and any said residual vapor stream and form a combined vapor stream; (18) said one or more means for providing heat exchange being further connected to said second combining means to receive said combined vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (6), and thereafter discharging said heated combined vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction;
said one or more means for providing heat exchange being configured to provide heat exchange between(a) said first distillation vapor stream flowing through one pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (b) said second distillation vapor stream arising from said first absorbing means inside said processing assembly, so that said first distillation vapor stream is cooled to at least partial condensation while heating said second distillation vapor stream, thereby forming said condensed stream and said residual vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(c) said first stream flowing through another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (d) said combined vapor stream flowing through said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that said first stream is cooled to substantial condensation while heating said combined vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(e) said first portion flowing through a further pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (f) said heated combined vapor stream arising from said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that first portion is cooled while further heating said heated combined vapor stream to form said volatile residue gas fraction, wherein said one or more heat exchange means does not include external reflux equipment items; and (19) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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16. A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein
(1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions; -
(2) said first portion is cooled; (3) said second portion is cooled; (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a cooled gas stream; (5) said cooled gas stream is divided into first and second streams; (6) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled; (7) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means housed in a single equipment item processing assembly, said first absorbing means being located above said second absorbing means; (8) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a bottom feed to said second absorbing means; (9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said second absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, said means for providing heat and mass transfer being configured to provide heat exchange between (a) said second portion flowing through one pass of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and (b) said distillation liquid stream flowing downward from said second absorbing means, so that said second portion is cooled while heating said distillation liquid stream before it leaves said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein as said distillation liquid stream is heated, a portion of it is vaporized to form stripping vapors that rise upward as the remaining liquid continues flowing downward through said means for providing heat and mass transfer; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer provides continuous contact between said stripping vapors and said remaining liquid so that said means for providing heat and mass transfer also functions to provide mass transfer between vapor and liquid phases, stripping said remaining liquid of methane and lighter components; and
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer supplies at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped remaining liquid from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
wherein said means for providing heat and mass transfer does not include external reboilers;(10) a first distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said means for providing heat and mass transfer and cooled sufficiently to condense it, thereby forming a condensed stream; (11) at least a portion of said condensed stream is supplied as a top feed to said first absorbing means; (12) a second distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said first absorbing means and heated, thereafter discharging said heated second distillation vapor stream from said processing assembly as said volatile residue gas fraction; (13) said heating of said second distillation vapor stream is accomplished in one or more means for providing heat exchange that is housed in said processing assembly, said one or more means for providing heat exchange being configured to provide heat exchange between (a) said first distillation vapor stream flowing through one pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (b) said second distillation vapor stream arising from said first absorbing means inside said processing assembly, so that said first distillation vapor stream is cooled sufficiently to condense it while heating said second distillation vapor stream, thereby forming said condensed stream and said residue gas fraction; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(c) said first stream flowing through another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (d) said second distillation vapor stream flowing through said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that said first stream is cooled to substantial condensation while heating said second distillation vapor stream; and
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange is further configured to provide heat exchange between(e) said first portion flowing through a further pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange, and (f) said heated second distillation vapor stream arising from said another pass of said one or more means for providing heat exchange inside said processing assembly, so that said first portion is cooled while further heating said heated second distillation vapor stream to form said volatile residue gas fraction, and wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange supplies at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2), (6), and (10);
wherein said one or more means for providing heat exchange does not include external reflux equipment items; and(14) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said first and second absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said first absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.
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Specification