Removal of ethane from natural gas at high pressure
AssigneeThe Governors of the University of Alberta
InventorsSteven Mitchell Kuznicki, Adolfo Maria Avila, Meng Shi, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Patricio S. Herrera
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Abstract
ETS-10 type materials preferentially adsorb ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins from mixtures comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins at pressures above 200 psia. A process in which ETS-10 type materials are used to separate ethane and C3+ paraffins from natural gas streams at over 200 psia is provided.
Claims18
A process to selectively remove ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins from a mixture comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins, said process comprising contacting said mixture with an ETS-10 type material at a pressure of at least 200 psia.
A swing adsorption process for separating ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins from a mixture comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins, said process comprising:
- i) passing said mixture through an adsorbent bed comprising an ETS-10 type material at a pressure at of at least 200 psia wherein ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins are selectively adsorbed relative to methane, to give an adsorption effluent stream;
- ii) recovering a desorption effluent stream from said adsorbent bed by carrying out one or more of the following:
- a) reducing the pressure in said adsorbent bed;
- b) increasing the temperature in said adsorbent bed;
- wherein said adsorption effluent stream is enriched in methane relative to said mixture and said desorption effluent stream is enriched in ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins relative to said mixture.
A process for separating ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins from a mixture comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins, said process comprising:
- i) passing said mixture through an adsorbent bed comprising an ETS-10 type material at a pressure at of at least 200 psia wherein ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins are selectively adsorbed relative to methane, to give an adsorption effluent stream;
- ii) recovering a desorption effluent stream from said adsorbent bed by contacting the adsorbent bed with water;
- wherein said adsorption effluent stream is enriched in methane relative to said mixture and said desorption effluent stream is enriched in ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins relative to said mixture.
A process comprising contacting a feed mixture comprising methane, ethane and at least one C3+ paraffin with an adsorption bed comprising an ETS-10 type material, at a specific temperature and pressure, for a number of bed volumes which under the chosen temperature and pressure conditions exceeds the breakthrough volume for ethane but which does not exceed the breakthrough volume for C3+ paraffins, said process giving an effluent stream which is enriched in methane and ethane relative to said feed mixture and which is essentially free of C3+ paraffins.
A process comprising passing a feed mixture comprising methane, ethane and optionally present C3+ paraffins through an adsorption bed comprising an ETS-10 type material, at a specific temperature and pressure, for a number of bed volumes which under the chosen temperature and pressure conditions does not exceed the breakthrough volume for ethane or, if present, C3+ paraffins, said process giving an effluent stream enriched in methane relative to said mixture and which is essential free of ethane and C3+ paraffins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.