Patent · US Expired

Process for NGL recovery from pressurized liquid natural gas

US6510706B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
15References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 2001
Grant dateJan 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25J2210/06
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for removing hydrocarbons less volatile than methane from a pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG). PLNG is heated in a heat exchanger, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the PLNG. The partially vaporized PLNG is passed to a fractionation column. A liquid stream enriched with hydrocarbons (C2+ or C3+) less volatile than methane is withdrawn from a lower portion of the fractionation column and a vapor stream lean in the hydrocarbons less volatile than methane is withdrawn from an upper portion of the fractionation column. The withdrawn vapor stream is passed to the heat exchanger to condense the vapor to produce PLNG lean in hydrocarbons less volatile than methane.

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