Process to decouple regeneration gas compressor from regeneration gas treating

A method for continuously treating a regeneration gas stream used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption vessel, comprising:

• cooling the regeneration gas stream in a first cooler to a temperature suitable to condense liquids in the regeneration gas stream;
• in a separator, removing liquids condensed in the regeneration gas stream;
• cooling the regeneration gas stream in a second cooler to perform at least one of
• (a) removing any remaining heat in the regeneration gas stream to bring the regeneration gas stream down to a desired process temperature, and
• (b) removing heat of compression added to the regeneration gas stream by a compressor when the compressor is operating in a recycle mode,
• wherein the second cooler is sized to accommodate the larger of a heat duty required for (a) or a heat duty required for (b);
• in a second separator, removing liquids condensed in the second cooler;
• compressing the regeneration gas stream in the compressor;
• arranging the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor between first and second isolation valves;
• opening the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is operational, to permit the regeneration gas stream to flow to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor;
• closing the first and second isolation valves when the compressor is not operational, to prevent the regeneration gas stream from flowing to the second cooler, the second separator, and the compressor;
• and
• opening a bypass valve to permit the regeneration gas stream to be flared or flowed to a vapor recovery system when the first and second isolation valves are closed, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream.