US 4,832,718 AGranted

Processing nitrogen-rich, hydrogen-rich, and olefin-rich gases with physical solvents

AssigneeAdvanced Extraction Technologies, Inc.

InventorYuv R. Mehra

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A continuous process is disclosed for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas stream which are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, higher saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by countercurrently contacting the hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of: (1) paraffinic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the paraffinic solvents, (2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the naphthenic solvents, and (3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream which is at least rich in at least one of the components and a rich solvent bottoms stream; and by recovering the lean physical solvent from the rich solvent bottoms stream and recycling the recovered stream to the contacting of Step A.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A continuous process for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas feed stream, said components being selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, heavier saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by the following steps:

A. counter-currently contacting said hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of:
(1) paraffinic solvent having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said paraffinic solvents,
(2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging form 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said naphthenic solvents, and
(3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream which is rich in one of said components and a rich solvent bottoms stream which is rich in at lesst one of another of said components and;
B. flashing said rich solvent bottoms stream to obtain said lean physical solvent and recycling the recovered solvent stream to the contacting of Step A.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/100,242Filed 23 Sep 1987 · continuation in part
Priority: 3 May 1982
Granted: 23 May 1989
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

C10L 3/10
Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04: working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
B01D 53/1487
By absorption: removing organic compounds
B01D 53/1493
By absorption: selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
C01B 3/52
Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification: by contacting with liquids; Regeneration of used liquids

Family

Serial374,270Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 May 1982
Serial507,564Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jun 1983
Serial532,005Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Sep 1983
Serial637,210Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Aug 1984
Serial758,351Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jul 1985
Serial759,327Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Jul 1985
Serial784,566Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Oct 1985
Serial808,463Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Dec 1985
Serial828,996Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Feb 1986
Serial828,988Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Feb 1986
Serial854,383Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Apr 1986
Serial24,561Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Mar 1987
Serial74,226Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Jul 1987
US 4,696,688 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,680,042 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,692,179 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,817,038 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,623,371 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,601,738 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,578,094 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,526,594 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,511,381 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,421,535 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,832,718 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.