Process for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from methane-rich pressurized liquid mixture
US6564580B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2290/62
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is an absorption process for recovering C2+ components from a pressurized liquid mixture comprising C1 and C2+. The pressurized liquid mixture is at least partially vaporized by heating the liquid mixture in a heat transfer means. The heat transfer means provides refrigeration to an absorption medium that is used in treating the vaporized mixture in an absorption zone. The vaporized mixture is passed to an absorption zone that produces a first stream enriched in C1 and a second stream enriched in C2+ components. The pressurized liquid mixture is preferably pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG) having an initial pressure above about 1,724 kPa (250 psia) and an initial temperature above −112° C. (−170° F.). Before being vaporized, the pressurized liquid mixture is preferably boosted in pressure to approximately the desired operating pressure of the absorption zone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.