Hydrocarbon gas processing

Patent · Tue Jul 14 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5749199

Campbell, R E; Wilkinson, J D

The processing of gas streams containing hydrocarbons and other gases of similar volatility to recover components such as ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbons from a residue gas containing methane is disclosed. In prior art processes, it has been customary to cool incoming raw feed gas and to separate the desired products by distillation. A part of the needed cooling is obtained by expanding the raw feed gas from a high feed pressure to a lower pressure at which distillation occurs. In the present invention, the raw feed gas is divided into two gaseous streams before expansion. The first stream is expanded in the usual fashion and supplied to the demethanizer as a mid-column feed. The remaining part is cooled to substantial condensation. The condensed stream is expanded and supplied to the demethanizer column above the feed point of the first stream. The split vapor feed provides unexpected advantages in reducing the risk of carbon dioxide icing in the demethanizer column, thus either eliminating or reducing the need for prior CO2 removal. Alternately, without increasing the risk of carbon dioxide icing, ethane recovery can be increased.

• Assignee: Ortloff Corp The
• Patent Number(s): US 4278457
• OSTI ID: 5749199
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020500* -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
ALKANES
BY-PRODUCTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COOLING
DISTILLATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROPANE
SEPARATION PROCESSES