Patent · US Expired

Process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from inert gas-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures

US4338101A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
15References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1981
Grant dateJul 6, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D2259/4516
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from inert gas-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures wherein the mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free inert gas is produced. A second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons previously adsorbed thereon is regenerated by evacuating the bed and the inert gas-hydrocarbon vapor mixture produced by the evacuation is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered. The evacuation of the beds is accomplished using a vacuum pump with an integral cooling jacket for cooling the pump as well as the fluids pumped thereby attached thereto. A cooling medium such as the rich liquid absorbent produced in the process is caused to flow through the vacuum pump cooling jacket thereby cooling the pump and the inert gas-hydrocarbon mixture pumped thereby.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.