ISO-Pressure Open Refrigeration NGL Recovery
AssigneeLummus Technology Inc.
InventorMichael Malsam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.
Claims8
An apparatus for separating natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a heat exchanger operable to provide the heating and cooling necessary for separation of natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream by heat exchange contact between the feed gas stream and one or more process streams;
- (b) a distillation column for receiving the feed gas stream and separating the feed gas stream into a column overhead stream comprising a substantial amount of the lighter hydrocarbon components of the feed gas stream and a column bottoms stream comprising a substantial amount of the heavier hydrocarbon components;
- (c) a first separator for receiving the distillation column overhead stream and separating the column overhead stream into an overhead sales gas stream and a bottoms stream comprising a mixed refrigerant for providing process cooling in the heat exchanger;
- (d) a compressor for compressing the mixed refrigerant stream after the mixed refrigerant stream has provided process cooling in the heat exchanger;
- and
- (e) a line for passing the compressed mixed refrigerant stream to the distillation column as a reflux.
An apparatus for separating natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a heat exchanger operable to provide the heating and cooling necessary for separation of natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream by heat exchange contact between the feed gas stream and one or more process streams;
- (b) a distillation column for receiving the feed gas stream and separating the feed gas stream into a column overhead stream comprising a substantial amount of the lighter hydrocarbon components of the feed gas stream and a column bottoms stream comprising a substantial amount of the heavier hydrocarbon components;
- (c) a first separator for receiving the distillation column overhead stream and separating the column overhead stream into an overhead sales gas stream and a bottoms stream comprising a mixed refrigerant for providing process cooling in the heat exchanger;
- and
- (d) a line for passing the mixed refrigerant stream from the heat exchanger to the distillation column as a reflux.
A process for separating natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream, the process comprising:
- (a) cooling the feed gas stream in a heat exchanger by heat exchange contact between the feed gas stream and one or more process streams to give a cooled feed gas stream;
- (b) providing the cooled feed gas stream to a distillation column and separating the feed gas stream into a column overhead stream comprising a substantial amount of the lighter hydrocarbon components of the feed gas stream and a column bottoms stream comprising a substantial amount of the heavier hydrocarbon components;
- (c) providing the distillation column overhead stream to a first separator and separating the distillation column overhead stream into an overhead sales gas stream and a bottoms stream comprising a mixed refrigerant;
- (d) providing the mixed refrigerant to the heat exchanger as a process stream for cooling;
- and
- (e) providing the mixed refrigerant stream from the heat exchanger to the distillation column as a reflux.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.