Prevention of solid hydrates in the liquefaction of natural gases

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF INHIBITING THE FORMATION OF SOLIDS DURING LOW TEMPERATURE SEPARATION OF LIQUIDS FROM A HYDROCARBON GAS STREAM INITIALLY CONTAINING GAS AND MOISTURE COMPONENTS WHICH COMPRISES: SUPPLYING A GAS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE TO A WATER KNOCKOUT VESSEL, SEPARATING MOISTURE FROM THE GAS STREAM AND COLLECTING THE SEPARATED MOISTURE AS WATER, PASSING THE GAS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE TO A SECOND SEPARATING VESSEL THROUGH A RESTRICTED CONNECTION FOR CAUSING EXPANSION OF THE GAS STREAM UPON ENTERING THE VESSEL WITH RESULTANT REDUCED TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE, PASSING THE EXPANDED GAS STREAM UPWARDLY THROUGH A BODY OF DELIQUESCENT DEHYDRATING MATERIAL CAPABLE OF ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM THE STREAM TO FORM A BRINE, DIRECTING THE SEPARATED WATER FROM SAID WATER KNOCKOUT VESSEL INTO THE BODY OF DELIQUESCENT MATERIAL TO INCREASE THE CONCENTRATION OF BRINE FORMED BY ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM SAID STREAM BY SAID MATERIAL. COLLECTING AS A RESULTANT BRINE THE BRINE FORMED FROM SAID MOISTURE ABSORBING STEP AND THE BRINE WHICH IS FORMED BY SAID SEPARATED WATER HAVING BEEN DIRECTED THROUGH THE DELIQUESCENT MATERIAL, AND DIRECTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID RESULTANT BRINE INTO THE RESTRICTED CONNECTION FOR MIXING WITH THE GAS STREAM PRIOR TO EXPANSION OF GAS INTO SAID SECOND SEPARATING VESSEL FOR THE PREVENTION OF HYDRATE SOLIDS.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF INHIBITING THE FORMATION OF SOLIDS DURING LOW TEMPERATURE SEPARATION OF LIQUIDS FROM A HYDROCARBON GAS STREAM INITIALLY CONTAINING GAS AND MOISTURE COMPONENTS WHICH COMPRISES: SUPPLYING A GAS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE TO A WATER KNOCKOUT VESSEL, SEPARATING MOISTURE FROM THE GAS STREAM AND COLLECTING THE SEPARATED MOISTURE AS WATER, PASSING THE GAS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE TO A SECOND SEPARATING VESSEL THROUGH A RESTRICTED CONNECTION FOR CAUSING EXPANSION OF THE GAS STREAM UPON ENTERING THE VESSEL WITH RESULTANT REDUCED TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE, PASSING THE EXPANDED GAS STREAM UPWARDLY THROUGH A BODY OF DELIQUESCENT DEHYDRATING MATERIAL CAPABLE OF ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM THE STREAM TO FORM A BRINE, DIRECTING THE SEPARATED WATER FROM SAID WATER KNOCKOUT VESSEL INTO THE BODY OF DELIQUESCENT MATERIAL TO INCREASE THE CONCENTRATION OF BRINE FORMED BY ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM SAID STREAM BY SAID MATERIAL. COLLECTING AS A RESULTANT BRINE THE BRINE FORMED FROM SAID MOISTURE ABSORBING STEP AND THE BRINE WHICH IS FORMED BY SAID SEPARATED WATER HAVING BEEN DIRECTED THROUGH THE DELIQUESCENT MATERIAL, AND DIRECTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID RESULTANT BRINE INTO THE RESTRICTED CONNECTION FOR MIXING WITH THE GAS STREAM PRIOR TO EXPANSION OF GAS INTO SAID SECOND SEPARATING VESSEL FOR THE PREVENTION OF HYDRATE SOLIDS.