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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hydrocarbon gas processing

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6917237
Ortloff Corp.'s new process offers improved efficiency in recovering gases such as ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from natural or synthetic gas streams or similar refinery or process streams. The gas to be separated is cooled at a high pressure to produce partial condensation, and the vapor and liquid portions are separated. Liquid from the partial condensation is further cooled, expanded to a lower pressure, and supplied to a distillation column for separation into fractions. The vapor portion is work-expanded to the operating pressure of the distillation column and supplied to the column below the feed point of the expanded liquid portion. The operating efficiency of the process is improved by turning back at least part of the vapor portion and warming it by heat exchange against the incoming feed before it is work-expanded. By thus warming the vapor more work and refrigeration can be recovered in the work-expansion machine.
Assignee:
Ortloff Corp.
Patent Number(s):
US 4140504
OSTI ID:
6917237
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English