Parallel stream heat exchange for separation of ethane and higher hydrocarbons from a natural or refinery gas

US4592766A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Linde GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Paul Kumman · Munich, DE
• Gerhard Ranke · Pöcking, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 1984
• Grant date: Jun 3, 1986
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2270/90
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

For the separation of ethane and higher hydrocarbons from a high pressure incoming gas containing hydrocarbons, the raw gas is cooled and expanded in several stages and the condensates that are produced are fed to a rectifying column to provide an overhead gaseous product essentially consisting of methane and a bottoms product consisting essentially of ethane and higher hydrocarbons. To save energy, the raw gas and/or the product streams are heat exchanged in parallel streams under different pressures, the cooled high-pressure gas is work-expanded and the condensates produced by cooling and expansion are fed separately to the rectifying column.