Hydrocarbon gas processing

In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process

• (a) said gas stream is cooled under pressure and then divided into gaseous first and second streams;
• (b) said gaseous first stream is cooled under pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to a lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (c) said gaseous second stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• and
• (d) said cooled expanded first stream and said expanded second stream are fractionated at said lower pressure whereby the components of said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered;
• the improvement wherein
• (1) said expanded cooled first stream is directed into heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) at least a portion of said expanded second stream is intimately contacted with at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream in a contacting device containing at least a fractional theoretical separation stage, and thereafter the vapors and liquids from said contacting device are separated;
• (3) said liquids thereby recovered are supplied to said distillation column as a liquid feed thereto;
• (4) said vapors thereby recovered are directed into heat exchange relation with said gaseous first stream thereby to heat said vapors and supply said cooling of step (b), whereupon said heated vapors are thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (5) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process

• (a) said gas stream is divided into gaseous first and second streams;
• (b) said gaseous first stream is cooled under pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to a lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (c) said gaseous second stream is cooled under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it and separated thereby to provide a vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (d) said vapor stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• (e) said condensed stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) said cooled expanded first stream, said expanded vapor stream, and said expanded condensed stream are fractionated at said lower pressure whereby the components of said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered;
• the improvement wherein
• (1) said expanded cooled first stream is directed into heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) at least a portion of said expanded vapor stream is intimately contacted with at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream in a contacting device containing at least a fractional theoretical separation stage, and thereafter the vapors and liquids from said contacting device are separated;
• (3) said liquids thereby recovered are supplied to said distillation column as a liquid feed thereto;
• (4) said vapors thereby recovered are directed into heat exchange relation with said gaseous first stream thereby to heat said vapors and supply said cooling of step (b), whereupon said heated vapors are thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (5) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process

• (a) said gas stream is cooled under pressure and then divided into gaseous first and second streams;
• (b) said gaseous first stream is cooled under pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to a lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (c) said gaseous second stream is cooled under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it and separated thereby to provide a vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (d) said vapor stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• (e) said condensed stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) said cooled expanded first stream, said expanded vapor stream, and said expanded condensed stream are fractionated at said lower pressure whereby the components of said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered;
• the improvement wherein
• (1) said expanded cooled first stream is directed into heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) at least a portion of said expanded vapor stream is intimately contacted with at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream in a contacting device containing at least a fractional theoretical separation stage, and thereafter the vapors and liquids from said contacting device are separated;
• (3) said liquids thereby recovered are supplied to said distillation column as a liquid feed thereto;
• (4) said vapors thereby recovered are directed into heat exchange relation with said gaseous first stream thereby to heat said vapors and supply said cooling of step (b), whereupon said heated vapors are thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (5) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process

• (a) said gas stream is cooled under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it and separated thereby to provide a vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (b) said vapor stream is divided into gaseous first and second streams;
• (c) said gaseous first stream is cooled under pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to a lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (d) said gaseous second stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• (e) said condensed stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) said cooled expanded first stream, said expanded second stream, and said expanded condensed stream are fractionated at said lower pressure whereby the components of said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered;
• the improvement wherein
• (1) said expanded cooled first stream is directed into heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) at least a portion of said expanded second stream is intimately contacted with at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream in a contacting device containing at least a fractional theoretical separation stage, and thereafter the vapors and liquids from said contacting device are separated;
• (3) said liquids thereby recovered are supplied to said distillation column as a liquid feed thereto;
• (4) said vapors thereby recovered are directed into heat exchange relation with said gaseous first stream thereby to heat said vapors and supply said cooling of step (c), whereupon said heated vapors are thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (5) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In a process for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in which process

• (a) said gas stream is cooled under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it and separated thereby to provide a vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (b) said vapor stream is divided into gaseous first and second streams;
• (c) said gaseous first stream is combined with at least a portion of said condensed stream to form a combined stream;
• (d) said combined stream is cooled under pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to a lower pressure whereby it is further cooled;
• (e) said gaseous second stream is expanded to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) said cooled expanded combined stream, said expanded second stream, and any remaining portion of said condensed stream are fractionated at said lower pressure whereby the components of said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered;
• the improvement wherein
• (1) said expanded cooled combined stream is directed into heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) at least a portion of said expanded second stream is intimately contacted with at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream in a contacting device containing at least a fractional theoretical separation stage, and thereafter the vapors and liquids from said contacting device are separated;
• (3) said liquids thereby recovered are supplied to said distillation column as a liquid feed thereto;
• (4) said vapors thereby recovered are directed into heat exchange relation with said combined stream thereby to heat said vapors and supply said cooling of step (d), whereupon said heated vapors are thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (5) the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting device and said distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting device and said distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a dividing means to divide said gas stream into gaseous first and second streams;
• (b) a first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous first stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (c) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (d) a cooling means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to cool it under pressure;
• (e) a second expansion means connected to said cooling means to receive said cooled second stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means and said second expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said cooled expanded second stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (b), whereupon said heated vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a cooling means to cool said gas stream under pressure;
• (b) a dividing means connected to said cooling means to receive said cooled gas stream and to divide it into gaseous first and second streams;
• (c) a first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous first stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (d) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (e) a second expansion means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (f) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means and said second expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said expanded second stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (c), whereupon said heated vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a dividing means to divide said gas stream into gaseous first and second streams;
• (b) a first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous first stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (c) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (d) a cooling means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (e) a separation means connected to said cooling means to receive said cooled second stream and separate it thereby to provide a first vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (f) a second expansion means connected to said separation means to receive said first vapor stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• (g) a third expansion means connected to said separation means to receive said condensed stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (h) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means, said second expansion means, and said third expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said expanded first vapor stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a second vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said second vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said second vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (b), whereupon said heated second vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a first cooling means to cool said gas stream under pressure;
• (b) a dividing means connected to said first cooling means to receive said cooled gas stream and to divide it into gaseous first and second streams;
• (c) a first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous first stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (d) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (e) a second cooling means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (f) a separation means connected to said second cooling means to receive said cooled second stream and separate it thereby to provide a first vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (g) a second expansion means connected to said separation means to receive said first vapor stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• (h) a third expansion means connected to said separation means to receive said condensed stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (i) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means, said second expansion means, and said third expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said expanded first vapor stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a second vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said second vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said second vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (c), whereupon said heated second vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a cooling means to cool said gas stream under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (b) a separation means connected to said cooling means to receive said cooled gas stream and separate it thereby to provide a first vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (c) a dividing means connected to said separation means to receive said first vapor stream and to divide it into gaseous first and second streams;
• (d) a first heat exchange means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous first stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (e) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed first stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (f) a second expansion means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• (g) a third expansion means connected to said separation means to receive said condensed stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (h) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means, said second expansion means, and said third expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled first stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said expanded second stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a second vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said second vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said second vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (d), whereupon said heated second vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.

In an apparatus for the separation of a gas stream containing methane, C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components or said C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, in said apparatus there being

• (a) a cooling means to cool said gas stream under pressure sufficiently to partially condense it;
• (b) a separation means connected to said cooling means to receive said cooled gas stream and separate it thereby to provide a first vapor stream and a condensed stream;
• (c) a dividing means connected to said separation means to receive said first vapor stream and to divide it into gaseous first and second streams;
• (d) a combining means connected to combine said gaseous first stream and at least a portion of said condensed stream into a combined stream;
• (e) a first heat exchange means connected to said combining means to receive said combined stream and to cool it under pressure sufficiently to substantially condense it;
• (f) a first expansion means connected to said first heat exchange means to receive said substantially condensed combined stream and to expand it to a lower pressure, whereby said stream is further cooled;
• (g) a second expansion means connected to said dividing means to receive said gaseous second stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• (h) a third expansion means connected to said separation means to receive any remaining portion of said condensed stream and to expand it to said lower pressure;
• and
• (i) a fractionation tower connected to said first expansion means, said second expansion means, and said third expansion means to receive said expanded streams therefrom;
• the improvement wherein said apparatus includes
• (1) a second heat exchange means connected to said first expansion means to receive said expanded cooled combined stream, said second heat exchange means being further connected to said fractionation tower to receive a warmer distillation stream which rises from fractionation stages of a distillation column in said fractionation tower, thereby cooling said distillation stream sufficiently to at least partially condense it;
• (2) a contacting and separating means connected to receive at least a portion of said at least partially condensed distillation stream and at least a portion of said expanded second stream wherein said streams are commingled in at least one contacting device, said contacting and separating means including separating means to separate the vapor and liquid after contact in said contacting device to form a second vapor stream and a liquid stream, said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said liquid stream to said distillation column in said fractionation tower as a liquid feed thereto;
• (3) said contacting and separating means being further connected to supply said second vapor stream to said first heat exchange means to heat said second vapor stream and thereby supply the cooling of step (e), whereupon said heated second vapor stream is thereafter discharged as said volatile residue gas fraction;
• and
• (4) control means adapted to regulate the quantities and temperatures of said feed streams to said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower to maintain the overhead temperatures of said contacting and separating means and said fractionation tower at temperatures whereby the major portions of the components in said relatively less volatile fraction are recovered.