Side draw reflux heavy hydrocarbon removal system and method

A system for removing heavy hydrocarbon components from a feed gas stream comprising:

• a. a heavies removal heat exchanger having a main feed stream cooling passage, a reflux stream cooling passage and a return vapor stream warming passage;
• b. said main feed stream cooling passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger configured to receive and cool at least a portion of a main feed gas stream so as to produce a cooled main feed stream;
• c. a scrubbing section including a main feed inlet, a liquid outlet, a return vapor outlet and a reflux inlet, wherein said main feed inlet is in fluid communication with an outlet of the main feed stream cooling passage;
• d. a stripping section having a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a liquid outlet and a vapor outlet, said first fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid stream from the liquid outlet of the scrubbing section;
• e. a stripping gas feed expansion device having an inlet configured to receive another portion of the main feed gas stream, said stripping gas feed expansion device having an outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet of the stripping section;
• f. a side draw vapor line configured to receive a vapor stream from the vapor outlet of the stripping section, said side draw vapor line in fluid communication with the reflux stream cooling passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger;
• g. a reflux separation device configured to receive fluid from the reflux cooling stream passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger, said reflux separation device including a liquid outlet and a vapor outlet, wherein the liquid outlet of the reflux separation device is in fluid communication with the reflux inlet of the scrubbing section;
• h. a return vapor expansion device having an inlet configured to receive a vapor stream from the return vapor outlet of the scrubbing section and an outlet configured to direct a cooled vapor stream to the return vapor stream warming passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger;
• i. said reflux separation device vapor outlet configured so that fluid passing therethrough joins with fluid that has exited the return vapor expansion device either before or after the fluid that has exited the return vapor expansion device flows through the return vapor stream warming passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger.