Methods and systems to separate hydrocarbon mixtures such as natural gas into light and heavy components
US10760006B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/90
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides strategies to integrate adsorption and liquefaction techniques to separate hydrocarbon feed mixtures into purified light and heavy components, respectively. Initially, the hydrocarbon stream is separated into a light and heavy stream. The light stream can be integrated into a natural gas product. The heavy stream is partially liquefied. A first gas liquid separation of the partially liquefied heavy stream at an elevated pressure separates the liquid heavy stream from a methane-containing gas. The rejected methane component, which generally will include some rejected C2 and C3+ material, can be recycled to be combined with the feed mixture for re-processing. A further aspect of the strategy is then to practice at least one additional gas-liquid separation of the separated liquid heavy stream at a lower pressure effective to help further resolve the liquid heavy stream from C2-containing gas. The rejected C2 component, which generally will include some rejected C1 and C3+ material, can then be recycled back into the feed mixture for reprocessing or used as all or a portion of a light hydrocarbon product.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.