Patent · US Active

Hydrocarbon gas processing

US9080811B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
58References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 4, 2010
Grant dateJul 14, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25J2290/42
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream in a compact processing assembly. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means inside the processing assembly. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as the bottom feed to the second absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of the first absorbing means and directed into one or more heat exchange means inside the processing assembly to heat it while cooling the gas stream and the first stream. The heated distillation vapor stream is compressed to higher pressure and divided into a volatile residue gas fraction and a compressed recycle stream. The compressed recycle stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it by the distillation vapor stream in the one or more heat exchange means inside the processing assembly, and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure…

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