Process for recovering ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream

Patent · Tue Jun 26 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6513501

Apffel, F P

A process for economically recovering ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbon components from methane and lighter constituents of natural gas streams is disclosed. The separation process of the natural gas stream is accomplished in two stages. The input gas stream is first cooled by exchanger using various streams of refrigerant. After cooling the stream is partially condensed in a separator, with part of the methane and almost all of the ethane and heavier hydrocarbons within the stream being condensed. The condensed mixtures are fed to a fractionation tower, where the methane and lighter gases are distilled from the other hydrocarbons. The cooling and condensation of the hydrocarbons in the feed stream and the heat source for the tower are accomplished in indirect contact heat exchangers with a multicomponent hydrocarbon refrigerant. The cooling of the feed stream is also accomplished by flashing of the process gases.

• Assignee: Flexivol, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4456460
• OSTI ID: 6513501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
030400 -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
COOLING
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISTILLATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
EVAPORATION
EXTRACTION APPARATUSES
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FLASHING
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTIONATION
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
PROPANE
RECOVERY
REFRIGERATION
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES