Process and apparatus for the purification of natural gas and products
US6368385B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/60
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process and apparatus for the purification of a gas, in particular natural gas, in order to eliminate mercaptans without the use of gas adsorption or cryogenic expansion processes. Natural gas, dried and cooled, is supplied to an absorption column under pressure, producing a head product of a purified gas, and a base product supplied to a fractionating column which separates the most volatile compounds, free from mercaptans, from a gasoline fraction of the natural gas. The mercaptans are eliminated at the head of at least one distillation column, producing a base end product consisting of a mixture of C5 hydrocarbons, heavier than and free from volatile mercaptans, partially mixed with the most volatile recompressed compounds of the natural gas. This mixture is cooled and sent by reflux to the absorption column.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.