Cryogenic expander recovery process

Patent · Tue Jun 09 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5468381

Hammond, J D; Deng, E H

A process is described for treating a gaseous hydrocarbon-containing feed stream such as natural gas or refinery gas to leave the ethane in the hydrocarbon gaseous stream and to separate and recover the C/sub 3/ and heavier hydrocarbon components. Increased recovery is achieved with the expenditure of less power by expanding the hydrocarbon gaseous feed stream in a cryogenic expansion step and contacting the expanded gas with an absorption medium. After partially condensing the gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream, first vapor and liquid streams are formed. These are separated, and the vapor stream expanded, cooled and partially condensed to form second vapor and liquid streams. The second vapor and liquid streams are separated, and the vapor stream is processed by an absorption step in which propane and heavier hydrocarbons are liquefied, distilled and recovered as liquid product. The vapor stream (methane and ethane) is compressed and recovered as product gas. 12 claims.

• Assignee: Fluor Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4272269
• OSTI ID: 5468381
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
030400 -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
ABSORPTION
ALKANES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROPANE
RECOVERY
REFINERY GASES
SEPARATION PROCESSES