Patent · US Expired

Natural gas liquefaction pretreatment process

US5325673A · kind A · utility

61Cited by
26References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 23, 1993
Grant dateJul 5, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25J2270/904
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for pretreating a natural gas stream using a single scrub column to remove freezable C.sub.5+ components and provide an LNG product which can be conveniently handled and shipped is disclosed. The method comprises feeding a natural gas stream to a feed point on a scrub column operated substantially as an absorption column wherein the heavy components are absorbed from the feed gas using a liquid reflux essentially free of such C.sub.5+ components. The feed can be vapor introduced at a low point on the column, or can be optionally split, cooled and/or expanded and introduced at one or more feed points on the column. The reflux stream can be overhead vapor condensate having a temperature of about - 40.degree. C., or methane-rich LNG or a combination of LNG and vapor condensate.

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