Converting ethane to liquid fuels and chemicals
US9731270B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10L2270/026
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Converting ethane may include directing a gaseous stream from a gas well into a fractionator for fractionating and producing a post-fractionator ethane stream, which is directed into a thermal activation unit for heating and raising the temperature of the post-fractionator ethane stream thereby creating an activated ethane stream, which is directed into a quench tower thereby creating a quenched stream, which may be converted in a catalytic conversion unit to a mixed product stream containing hydrogen and C1-C15 hydrocarbons; directing the mixed product stream into a first separation unit forming a stream of C4+ hydrocarbon product and a stream of C1-C3 hydrocarbons; directing the stream of C1-C3 hydrocarbons into a catalytic hydrogenation reactor thereby imparting hydrogen into a post-hydrogenation reactor stream, which is directed directly into a second separation unit thereby creating a light hydrocarbons recycle stream, which may be recycled into the thermal activation unit, and a hydrogen and methane stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.