US 6,551,379 B2Granted

Apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator

OwnerRodney T. Heathinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator wherein a portion of the wet glycol in an emissions separator is pumped under pressure as circulating wet glycol which may be used as a coolant for effluent removed from a reboiler and/or a power source for an eductor to form a vacuum in a first chamber of a liquid water removal separator apparatus. The cooled effluent, comprising at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors, moves into the first chamber wherein the liquid water and/or the liquid hydrocarbons are separated from the uncondensed vapors. At least, the uncondensed vapors are removed from the first chamber and move into the eductor wherein they are compressed and combined into the circulating wet glycol. The separated liquid water is transferred to a second chamber of the liquid water removal separator apparatus and then removed therefrom. In some instances, the liquid hydrocarbons are transferred to a third chamber and removed therefrom. Apparatus is also provided to remove liquid hydrocarbons from the emissions separator. Also, gases from gas emitting level control apparatus are collected and fed into the first chamber.

Claims24

Dependent claims

In apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator wherein a supply of natural gas is fed into an absorber wherein it is subjected to dry glycol to remove undesirable materials, including water, therefrom so that the dry glycol is changed into wet glycol that is removed from the absorber, the method comprising:

providing first separator apparatus containing a supply of wet glycol and located to receive wet glycol from said absorber;
transferring at least portions of said wet glycol in said first separator apparatus to a still column of a reboiler apparatus using a first transfer apparatus so that said transferred portions of said wet glycol can be changed to at least dry glycol and effluent;
transferring said effluent from said still column to condenser apparatus using a second transfer apparatus;
converting said effluent into at least liquids and uncondensed vapors in said condenser apparatus;
providing second separator apparatus;
transferring said liquids and said uncondensed vapors to said second separator apparatus using a third transfer apparatus;
circulating other portions of said wet glycol from said first separator apparatus in a circulatory path and returning said other portions of said wet glycol to said first separator apparatus;
separating at least most of said uncondensed vapors from said liquids in said second separator apparatus;
and
entraining and compressing most of said uncondensed vapors with said circulating other portions of said wet glycol to be returned therewith to said first separator apparatus.

7 more elements

Apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator wherein a supply of natural gas is fed into an absorber wherein it is subjected to dry glycol to remove undesirable materials, including water, therefrom so that the dry glycol is changed into wet glycol that is removed from the absorber comprising:

first separator apparatus containing at least a supply of wet glycol and located to receive wet glycol from said absorber;
reboiler apparatus having a still column for converting wet glycol to dry glycol and effluent;
first transfer apparatus for transferring at least portions of said wet glycol in said first separator apparatus to said still column of said reboiler apparatus;
second transfer apparatus for transferring said effluent from said reboiler to condenser apparatus;
said condenser apparatus converting said effluent into at least liquids and uncondensed vapors;
second separator apparatus;
third transfer apparatus for transferring said liquids and said uncondensed vapors to said second separator apparatus;
said second separator apparatus separating at least said uncondensed vapors from said liquids;
circulating apparatus for removing other portions of said wet glycol from said first separator apparatus, moving said other portions of said wet glycol in a circulatory path and returning said other portions of said wet glycol to said first separator apparatus;
force producing apparatus located in said circulatory path and cooperating with said other portions of said wet glycol to produce a force;
fourth transfer apparatus extending between said force producing apparatus and said second separator apparatus to transfer at least substantially all of said uncondensed vapors from said second separator apparatus to said force producing apparatus;
and
said force producing apparatus entraining said at least substantially all of said uncondensed vapors with said other portions of said wet glycol to be returned therewith to said first separator apparatus.

10 more elements

first separator apparatus containing a supply of wet glycol and located to receive wet glycol from said absorber;
reboiler apparatus having a still column for converting wet glycol to dry glycol and effluent;
first transfer apparatus for transferring at least portions of said wet glycol in said first separator apparatus to said still column of said reboiler apparatus;
second transfer apparatus for transferring said effluent from said reboiler to condenser apparatus;
said condenser apparatus converting said effluent into at least liquids and uncondensed vapors;
second separator apparatus;
third transfer apparatus for transferring said liquids and said uncondensed vapors to said second separator apparatus;
circulating apparatus for removing other portions of said wet glycol from said first separator apparatus, moving said other portions of said wet glycol in a circulatory path and returning said other portions of said wet glycol to said first separator apparatus;
said second separator apparatus separating at least most of said uncondensed vapors from said liquids;
and
fourth transfer apparatus for entraining said at least most of said uncondensed vapors with said circulating other portions of said wet glycol to be returned therewith to said first separator apparatus.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/071,721Filed 8 Feb 2002 · continuation
Priority: 15 Jun 1999
Published: US 2002/0073843 A120 Jun 2002
Granted: 22 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B01D 53/263
Drying gases or vapours: by absorption
B01D 53/002
Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g.…: by…
B01D
Separation

Family

Application09/333,115Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Jun 1999
Application09/565,885Parent of this continuation · filed 5 May 2000
US 2002/0073843 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Jun 2002
US 6,364,933 B1Parent of this continuation
Application09/565,885Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,238,461 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,551,379 B2This patent

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