Hydrocarbon gas separation
US4519824A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 7, 1983 |
| Grant date | May 28, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2240/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A cryogenic process for separating methane from ethane and heavier hydrocarbons in which a high pressure gas feed is divided into two gas streams. The gas is cooled either before or after it is divided and this step may include some condensation in which case the condensate is separated from the gas. One of the divided gas streams is expanded through a work expansion machine down to the pressure of the fractionation column. Any separated condensate is also expanded to the column pressure. The second divided gas stream is further cooled by heat exchange and then expanded down to an intermediate pressure whereby a portion is condensed. This condensate is separated from the remaining gas and then expanded to the column pressure. The remaining gas is further cooled and expanded and fed to the column as the top feed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.