US3707066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas purification
Assignee: BOC Group Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-07-16
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Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1990-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for reducing the level of impurities in a gaseous feedstock by mixing a solvent gas with the feedstock, cooling to a temperature at which a portion of the gas mixture condenses to give an impurity-rich liquid and separating the liquid from the uncondensed portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Carne
- 👤 Kenneth Cecil Smith
- 👤 David Arthur Webber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:59
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/06; F25J3/0605; F25J3/061; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/10; F25J3/063; F25J3/0635; F25J3/065; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/50; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/60; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent gas is introduced in the liquid state into the feedstock and is allowed to vaporize before the cooling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the solvent gas is selected from the group comprising butane, pentane, isomers of hexane, propane, propylene and toluene.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the solvent gas is a commercial mixture from a petroleum cracking process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a process for the liquefaction of natural gas feedstock including the step of reducing the content of aromatic hydrocarbon impurities and C7 and heavier aliphatic impurities in the feedstock by cooling the feedstock at elevated pressure to a temperature at which a major part of the impurities liquefy and separating the so formed impurity-rich liquid from the non-liquefied portion of the feedstock, the improvement comprising introducing into the feedstock prior to the cooling a solvent hydrocarbon gas that has a higher boiling point than a major part of the feedstock and has in its liquid state a solvent effect upon at least a part of the impurities, whereby for a given degree of impurity reduction the amount of refrigeration required to effect the cooling is able to be reduced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved process according to claim 5, wherein the solvent hydrocarbon gas is drawn from a source separate from the feedstock.
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Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |