Hydrocarbon gas processing

US10551118B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Ortloff Engineers, Ltd. · US
• S.M.E. Products LP · US

Inventors

• Hank M. Hudson · Midland, US
• John D. Wilkinson · Midland, US
• Joe T. Lynch · Midland, US
• Scott Allan Miller, III · Lafayette, US
• Kyle T. Cuellar · Crabb, US
• Andrew F. Johnke · Beresford, US
• W. Larry Lewis · Tomball, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 24, 2016
• Grant date: Feb 4, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2290/80
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to improve the recovery of C2 (or C3) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes producing at least a substantially condensed first stream and a cooled second stream, expanding both streams to lower pressure, and supplying the streams to a fractionation tower. In the process and apparatus disclosed, the tower overhead vapor is directed to an absorbing means and a heat and mass transfer means inside a processing assembly. A portion of the outlet vapor from the processing assembly is compressed to higher pressure, cooled and substantially condensed in a heat exchange means inside the processing assembly, then expanded to lower pressure and supplied to the heat and mass transfer means to provide cooling. Condensed liquid from the absorbing means is fed to the tower.