Light gas component separation from a carbon dioxide mixture

Abstract

A method of separating one or more light components, such as helium, from a carbon dioxide containing stream. A two-phase stream is obtained, at least in part, by cooling a pressurized feed stream to at least partially condense such stream. The stream that is subsequently degassed to produce a first vapor stream enriched in the light component(s) and a first liquid stream containing an entrained fraction of the light component(s). The first liquid stream is expanded to create another two-phase stream that is degasified to produce a second vapor stream that is also enriched in the light component(s) and a second liquid stream having an enriched carbon dioxide content. The second liquid stream is repressurized and vaporized. In case of a supercritical feed, the pressurized feed stream is expanded after having been cooled. Thereafter, the feed is degassed to produce the light component enriched vapor stream and a liquid stream enriched in the carbon dioxide. The resultant vapor streams, enriched in the light component(s) may then be further processed to isolate the light components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.