# US 7,740,691 B2 · Gas treating method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,740,691 B2 - Document ID: US7740691B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/329,015 - Filed: 2006-01-10 - Published: 2007-07-12 - Granted: 2010-06-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-10 - Assignees: Edwin W. Cash - Inventors: Edwin A. Cash; Thomas J. Bradley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7740691B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/1425: {Regeneration of liquid absorbents} - B01D 53/1462: {Removing mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide} - B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) - C10L 3/10: Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas - C10L 3/102: {of acid contaminants} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS ## Abstract A method and apparatus for treating natural gas comprises a contactor having a manifold for spreading gas in the contactor vessel, a plurality of perforated plates above the manifold, a spray system for spraying a treating liquid into an upwardly rising column of gas and a liquid level controller for maintaining the treating liquid above the perforated plates. Gas and liquid from the contactor pass through a cooler and are then separated. A treating liquid regeneration system receives the treating liquid and flashes the liquid at low pressure to separate hydrocarbon gases, hydrocarbon liquid and treating liquid. The treating liquid is regenerated by heating and flashing off contaminant gases and is ultimately redelivered to the contactor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for treating a contaminated gas comprising: a vessel comprising a pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the vessel comprises a generally cylindrical high-pressure vessel operable to operate at a pressure of at least 800 pounds per square inch (psi) over atmospheric pressure; a manifold for introducing the contaminated gas into the vessel, wherein the manifold introduces the gas into the vessel below the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid; at least one flow disperser contained within the vessel and positioned above the manifold and beneath the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid; and one or more spray nozzles contained within the vessel and positioned above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, operable to introduce contaminant-absorbing liquid counter-current to the flow of contaminated gas in the vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the manifold introduces the gas in a direction away from the flow disperser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow disperser comprises a perforated plate comprising openings and operable to prevent channeling of the gas in the vessel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a liquid level sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more downcomers for maintaining the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid in the vessel, wherein the one or more downcomers deliver overflow contaminant-absorbing liquid to a sump within the vessel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises a generally cylindrical high-pressure vessel less than 25 feet in height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contaminated gas comprises natural gas and the contaminant-absorbing liquid comprises an amine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises a height of approximately 10 feet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contaminant-absorbing liquid comprises an amine and the quantity of the amine that circulates through the apparatus comprises no more than 30 gallons per minute per 10,000 thousand cubit feet per day (MCFD) of treated contaminated gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus does not include a demister. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for treating a contaminated gas comprising: a vessel comprising a pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the vessel comprises a generally cylindrical high-pressure vessel operable to operate at a pressure of at least 800 pounds per square inch (psi) over atmospheric pressure; a manifold for introducing the contaminated gas into the vessel, wherein the manifold introduces the gas into the vessel below the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid; at least one perforated plate comprising openings and operable to prevent channeling of the gas in the vessel and positioned above the manifold and beneath the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid; a liquid level sensor; one or more downcomers for maintaining the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid in the vessel, wherein the one or more downcomers deliver overflow contaminant-absorbing liquid to a sump within the vessel; and one or more spray nozzles contained within the vessel and positioned above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, operable to introduce contaminant-absorbing liquid counter-current to the flow of contaminated gas in the vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the vessel comprises a height of approximately 10 feet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus does not include a demister.