Method of dehydrating natural gas

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5874683

Wells, R E

A method for dehydration of natural gas is provided wherein well head gas is supplied to a three-phase inlet separator, the vapor mixture of natural gas and water removed from that inlet separator means is supplied to a turboexpander, and the resulting refrigerated mixture of natural gas and condensed water vapor is supplied to a multi-phase outlet separator. The turboexpander may have integral means for subsequent compression of the refrigerated mixture and may be coupled through reduction gears to a means for generating electricity. A portion of the refrigerated mixture may be connected to a heat exchanger for cooling the well head natural gas prior to entry into the inlet separator. The flow of refrigerated mixture to this heat exchanger may be controlled by a temperature sensitive valve downstream of the heat exchanger. Methanol may be injected into the vapor mixture prior to entry into the turboexpander. The flow of methanol into the vapor mixture may be controlled by a valve sensitive to the flow rate of the vapor mixture and the water vapor content of the refrigerated mixture. Natural gas vapor from the outlet separator may be recirculated through the turboexpander if the output water vapor content of the natural gas vapor stream is too high.

• Assignee: General Signal Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4490985
• OSTI ID: 5874683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
032000 -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ALCOHOLS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CORROSION PROTECTION
DEHYDRATION
DEHYDRATORS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDRATES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MACHINERY
METHANOL
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PIPELINES
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
TURBOMACHINERY
VALVES
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR
WELLS