Hydrocarbon Gas Processing

A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein

• (1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
• (2) said first portion is cooled;
• (3) said second portion is cooled;
• (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a partially condensed gas stream;
• (5) said partially condensed gas stream is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (6) said vapor stream is divided into first and second streams;
• (7) said first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (8) said expanded cooled first stream is supplied as a top feed to an absorbing means housed in a processing assembly;
• (9) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a first bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (10) at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a second bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (11) a distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said absorbing means and heated in one or more heat exchange means, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (7), and thereafter discharging said heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (12) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (13) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein

• (1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
• (2) said first portion is cooled;
• (3) said second portion is cooled;
• (4) said cooled first portion is combined with said cooled second portion to form a partially condensed gas stream;
• (5) said partially condensed gas stream is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (6) said vapor stream is divided into first and second streams;
• (7) said first stream combined with at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream to form a combined stream;
• (8) said combined stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (9) said expanded cooled combined stream is supplied as a top feed to an absorbing means housed in a processing assembly;
• (10) said second stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a first bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (11) any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a second bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (12) a distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said absorbing means and heated in one or more heat exchange means, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (8), and thereafter discharging said heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (13) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (14) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein

• (1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
• (2) said first portion is cooled and is thereafter expanded to lower pressure;
• (3) said expanded cooled first portion is supplied as a bottom feed to an absorbing means housed in a processing assembly;
• (4) said second portion is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to said lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (5) said expanded cooled second portion is supplied as a top feed to said absorbing means;
• (6) a distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said absorbing means and heated in one or more heat exchange means, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (4), and thereafter discharging said heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (7) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (4) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (8) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein

• (1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
• (2) said first portion is cooled sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (3) said partially condensed first portion is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (4) said vapor stream is expanded to lower pressure and is supplied as a first bottom feed to an absorbing means housed in a processing assembly;
• (5) at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a second bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (6) said second portion is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to said lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (7) said expanded cooled second portion is supplied as a top feed to said absorbing means;
• (8) a distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said absorbing means and heated in one or more heat exchange means, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (6), and thereafter discharging said heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (9) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (6) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (10) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

A process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components wherein

• (1) said gas stream is divided into first and second portions;
• (2) said first portion is cooled sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (3) said partially condensed first portion is supplied to a separating means and is separated therein to provide a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (4) said vapor stream is expanded to lower pressure and is supplied as a first bottom feed to an absorbing means housed in a processing assembly;
• (5) said second portion is cooled and is thereafter combined with at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream to form a combined stream;
• (6) said combined stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to said lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (7) said expanded cooled combined stream is supplied as a top feed to said absorbing means;
• (8) any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream is expanded to said lower pressure and is supplied as a second bottom feed to said absorbing means;
• (9) a distillation vapor stream is collected from an upper region of said absorbing means and heated in one or more heat exchange means, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of steps (2) and (6), and thereafter discharging said heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (10) a distillation liquid stream is collected from a lower region of said absorbing means and heated in a heat and mass transfer means housed in said processing assembly, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (5) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (11) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means are effective to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it;
• (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (4) combining means connected to said first heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a cooled gas stream;
• (5) second dividing means connected to said combining means to receive said cooled gas stream and divide it into first and second streams;
• (6) second heat exchange means connected to said second dividing means to receive said first stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (7) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and expand it to lower pressure;
• (8) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream as a top feed thereto;
• (9) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a bottom feed thereto;
• (10) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (11) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (6);
• (12) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (13) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (14) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (15) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it;
• (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (4) combining means connected to said first heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a partially condensed gas stream;
• (5) separating means connected to said combining means to receive said partially condensed gas stream and separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (6) second dividing means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and divide it into first and second streams;
• (7) second heat exchange means connected to said second dividing means to receive said first stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (8) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and expand it to lower pressure;
• (9) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream as a top feed thereto;
• (10) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a first bottom feed thereto;
• (11) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded liquid stream as a second bottom feed thereto;
• (12) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (13) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (7);
• (14) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (15) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (16) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (17) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) first dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said first dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it;
• (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said first dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (4) first combining means connected to said first heat exchange means and said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled first portion and said cooled second portion and form a partially condensed gas stream;
• (5) separating means connected to said first combining means to receive said partially condensed gas stream and separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (6) second dividing means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and divide it into first and second streams;
• (7) second combining means connected to said second dividing means and said separating means to receive said first stream and at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and form a combined stream;
• (8) second heat exchange means connected to said second combining means to receive said combined stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (9) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed combined stream and expand it to lower pressure;
• (10) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled combined stream as a top feed thereto;
• (11) second expansion means connected to said second dividing means to receive said second stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded second stream as a first bottom feed thereto;
• (12) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded liquid stream as a second bottom feed thereto;
• (13) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (14) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (8);
• (15) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (16) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (17) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (18) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it;
• (3) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (4) second heat exchange means connected to said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled second portion and further cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (5) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed second portion and expand it to lower pressure;
• (6) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled second portion as a top feed thereto;
• (7) second expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said cooled first portion and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded cooled first portion as a bottom feed thereto;
• (8) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (9) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (4);
• (10) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (11) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (12) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (3) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (13) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (3) separating means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said partially condensed first portion and to separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (4) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (5) second heat exchange means connected to said heat and mass transfer means to receive said cooled second portion and further cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (6) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed second portion and expand it to lower pressure;
• (7) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled second portion as a top feed thereto;
• (8) second expansion means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded vapor stream as a first bottom feed thereto;
• (9) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded liquid stream as a second bottom feed thereto;
• (10) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (11) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (5);
• (12) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (13) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (14) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (4) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (15) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

An apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing a major portion of said C2 components, C3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components comprising

• (1) dividing means to divide said gas stream into first and second portions;
• (2) first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said first portion and cool it sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (3) separating means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said partially condensed first portion and to separate it into a vapor stream and at least one liquid stream;
• (4) heat and mass transfer means housed in a processing assembly and connected to said dividing means to receive said second portion and cool it;
• (5) combining means connected to said heat and mass transfer means and said separating means to receive said cooled second portion and at least a portion of said at least one liquid stream and form a combined stream;
• (6) second heat exchange means connected to said combining means to receive said combined stream and cool it sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (7) first expansion means connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed combined stream and expand it to lower pressure;
• (8) absorbing means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled combined stream as a top feed thereto;
• (9) second expansion means connected to said separating means to receive said vapor stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said second expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded vapor stream as a first bottom feed thereto;
• (10) third expansion means connected to said separating means to receive any remaining portion of said at least one liquid stream and expand it to said lower pressure, said third expansion means being further connected to said absorbing means to supply said expanded liquid stream as a second bottom feed thereto;
• (11) vapor collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation vapor stream from an upper region of said absorbing means;
• (12) said second heat exchange means being further connected to said vapor collecting means to receive said distillation vapor stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (6);
• (13) said first heat exchange means being further connected to said second heat exchange means to receive said heated distillation vapor stream and further heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (2), and thereafter discharging said further heated distillation vapor stream as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• (14) liquid collecting means housed in said processing assembly and connected to said absorbing means to receive a distillation liquid stream from a lower region of said absorbing means;
• (15) said heat and mass transfer means being further connected to said liquid collecting means to receive said distillation liquid stream and heat it, thereby to supply at least a portion of the cooling of step (4) while simultaneously stripping the more volatile components from said distillation liquid stream, and thereafter discharging said heated and stripped distillation liquid stream from said processing assembly as said relatively less volatile fraction;
• and
• (16) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said absorbing means to maintain the temperature of said upper region of said absorbing means at a temperature whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.