Patent · US Expired

Integrated process for purifying and liquefying a feed gas mixture with respect to its less strongly adsorbed component of lower volatility

US5486227A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
12References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 1994
Grant dateJan 23, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 8, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02C20/40
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process is set forth for purifying and liquefying a feed gas mixture with respect to its less strongly adsorbed component of lower volatility which integrates temperature swing adsorption (TSA), pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and cryogenic distillation to optimize overall performance. The TSA portion of the process is used to remove the strongly adsorbed component from the feed; the PSA portion of the process is used to remove the moderately strongly adsorbed component from the feed; and the cryogenic distillation portion of the process is used to remove the less strongly adsorbed component of higher volatility from the feed while also providing for the liquefaction of the product. A key to the present invention is the use of the PSA and distillation waste streams in the regeneration of the TSA and PSA adsorbents. An important application of the present invention is the purification and liquefaction of a natural gas feed stream with respect to its methane/C.sub.2 hydrocarbon component.

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