Abstract A process for the removal of at least one component from a gaseous mixture by selective absorption in a solvent, said component having an exothermic heat of solution in said solvent, said process comprising the steps of: A. PASSING SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE INTO THE BOTTOM ZONE OF AN ABSORPTION COLUMN HAVING TOP, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM ZONES; B. PASSING SAID SOLVENT INTO THE TOP ZONE OF SAID ABSORPTION COLUMN; C. WITHDRAWING PARTIALLY ABSORBED GASEOUS MIXTURE FROM THE MIDDLE ZONE OF SAID COLUMN; D. COOLING SAID PARTIALLY ABSORBED GASEOUS MIXTURE; E. RECYCLING RESULTANT COOLED MIXTURE TO SAID ABSORPTION COLUMN; AND F. FURTHER CONTACTING RESULTANT RECYCLED COOLED GASEOUS MIXTURE WITH SAID SOLVENT TO COMPLETE SAID ABSORPTION.
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said cooling in step (d) is conducted in indirect heat exchange with cold desorbed solvent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said gaseous mixture in step (d) is cooled to below the dew point of said at least one component to be removed by absorption to form a liquid phase of said at least one component, whereby at least a portion of the exothermic heat of solution of said component in said solvent is removed externally of the column as heat of condensation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as defined by claim 3 wherein all of said liquid phase and all of resultant cooled gaseous phase are recycled to said absorption column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said liquid phase and all of resultant cooled gaseous phase are recycled to said absorption column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as defined by claim 4 wherein said liquid phase and gaseous mixture are recycled to said absorption column by gravity flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the gaseous mixture is withdrawn from the scrubbing column at a point where the partial pressure of the component to be condensed is sufficiently high that during the transfer of only that amount of refrigeration necessary to counterbalance the heat of solution, condensation takes place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as defined by claim 2 wherein said cold desorbed solvent heat exchange medium is first cooled by external refrigeration prior to desorption and then indirectly heat exchanged with said withdrawn gaseous mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said liquid polar organic solvent is methanol.