Method for partial condensation of hydrocarbon gas mixtures
AssigneeThe M. W. Kellogg Company
InventorsDuffer B. Crawford, T. Michael O'Connor, Ramanathan R. Tarakad
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Abstract
Heavy components of hydrocarbon gas mixtures are recovered through partial condensation of a first portion of the starting gas by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant wherein the condensate formed is entrained in the gas stream. The condensate is separated from the resulting partially condensed, two-phase mixture and the separated condensate is then thermally stripped of light components by heat exchange with a second portion of the starting gas which is thereby also partially condensed. Heavy components from the starting gas mixture are recovered as stripped hydrocarbon condensate.
Claims12
A method for partial condensation of a hydrocarbon gas mixture which comprises:
- (a) dividing a starting hydrocarbon gas mixture into at least first and second portions;
- (b) introducing a first refrigerant to a first partial condensation zone;
- (c) passing the first portion through the first partial condensation zone in indirect heat exchange with the first refrigerant to form a first condensate entrained in a first light gas;
- (d) recovering a two phase mixture containing the first condensate and the first light gas from the first partial condensation zone and introducing the recovered two phase mixture to a first gas/liquid separation zone;
- (e) recovering the first condensate from the first gas/liquid separation zone;
- (f) introducing the recovered first condensate to a second partial condensation zone;
- (g) passing the second portion through the second partial condensation zone in heat exchange with the recovered first condensate to form a second light gas and a second condensate and thermally stripping the recovered first condensate and the second condensate;
- (h) recovering the second light gas from the second partial condensation zone;
- (i) recovering stripped hydrocarbon condensate from the second partial condensation zone at substantially the same pressure as the divided hydrocarbon gas mixture;
- and
- (j) recovering a second hydrocarbon gas mixture from the first gas/liquid separation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.