Method for sub-cooling a normally gaseous hydrocarbon mixture
A method for sub-cooling a normally gaseous hydrocarbon product stream is described which comprises: (a) expanding a liquid phase, sub-cooled, built component, normally gaseous, hydrocarbon stream into a low-pressure, adiabatic gas/liquid separation zone; (b) recovering a gaseous refrigerant stream containing portions of a least two of the lightest components of the multi-component, normally gaseous, hydrocarbon stream from the low-pressure, adiabatic gas/liquid separation zone; (c) compressing the gaseous refrigerant stream to an elevated pressure and then condensing the stream to form a high-pressure refrigerant liquid; (d) sub-cooling at least a portion of the high-pressure refrigerant liquid to form a first, cold refrigerant liquid; (e) expanding at least a portion of the first, cold refrigerant liquid to form a first, low-pressure refrigerant; (f) vaporizing the first low-pressure refrigerant to form a first low-pressure revaporized refrigerant; (g) introducing the first low-pressure revaporized refrigerant to the low-pressure, adiabatic gas/liquid separation zone; (h) sub-cooling a multi-component, normally gaseous, hydrocarbon process stream by indirect heat exchange with the first low pressure refrigerant to form the liquid phase, sub-cooled, multi-component, normally gaseous, hydrocarbon stream that is expanded into the low-pressure, adiabatic gas/liquid separation zone; and (i) recovering a normally gaseous, liquid phase, hydrocarbon product stream from the low-pressure, adiabatic gas/liquid separation zone.
- Assignee:
- M.W. Kellogg Co., Houston, TX
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4727723
- OSTI ID:
- 5129595
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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