Process and apparatus for eliminating at least one acid gas by means of a solvent for the purification of natural gas
US5735936A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D53/1425
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The process comprises a cold absorption step 2 for removing acid gas from natural gas using a solvent phase at a pressure P.sub.2 which delivers a purified gas 5; a step for depressurizing and separating resultant acidic solvent phase containing hydrocarbons (lines 4, 11), at a pressure P.sub.12 which is lower than pressure P.sub.2 in a column-heat exchanger 12 which delivers a purified gaseous effluent 13 overhead and a further solvent phase at the bottom (line 17) which is enriched in hydrogen sulphide; and a solvent phase regeneration step carried out in a distillation column 18 at a pressure P.sub.18 and no higher than pressure P.sub.12. A gas 29 containing essentially hydrogen sulphide which is depleted in hydrocarbons is recovered from column 18 and is a suitable feed for a Claus plant for eliminating H.sub.2 S. The regenerated hot solvent phase 20 indirectly exchanges heat with the cold acidic solvent phase from absorber 2 or separator 6. It is then recycled to the absorbent after cooling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.