Liquefied natural gas processing

Patent · Tue May 19 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:5155981

Rambo, C L; Wilkinson, J D; Hudson, H M

This patent describes improvement in a process for the separation of liquefied natural gas containing methane, C{sub 2} components, C{sub 3} components and heavier hydrocarbon components. The improvement comprises a distillation stream is withdrawn from an upper region of the fractionation column and thereafter divided into the more volatile fraction and a recycle stream; the recycle stream is directed in heat exchange relation with at least a portion of the liquefied natural gas whereby the compressed recycle stream is cooled sufficiently to substantially condense it, while the liquefied natural gas portion is heated; the substantially condensed compressed recycle stream is supplied to the fractionation column at a top column feed position; the heated liquefied natural gas portion is supplied to the fractionation column at a mid-column feed position; and the quantity and pressure of the compressed recycle stream and the temperatures of the feed streams to the fractionation column are effective to maintain column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the C{sub 2} components, C{sub 3} components and heavier hydrocarbon components is recovered in the relatively less volatile fraction.

• Assignee: Elcor Corp., Dallas, TX (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5114451; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-492548
• OSTI ID: 5155981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ALKANES
COMPRESSED GASES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTIONATION
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECYCLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES