Reaction product effluent separation process

Claim 1

A process for separating a hydrocarbon conversion reaction product effluent containing (i) hydrogen, (ii) normally gaseous hydrocarbons and, (iii) normally liquid hydrocarbons, which process comprises the sequential steps of: a. introducing said effluent into a first separation zone, at a lower temperature, to provide a hydrogen-rich first vaporous phase and a first liquid phase; b. introducing said first liquid phase into a second separation zone, at substantially the same temperature and a reduced pressure, to provide a second liquid phase and to recover a C 1 /C 2 concentrated second vaporous phase; c. separating said second liquid phase, in a first fractionation zone, at fractionation conditions selected to provide (i) a C 5 -plus concentrated normally liquid hydrocarbon stream and, (ii) a C 4 -minus concentrated third vaporous phase; d. condensing and separating said third vaporous phase to recover a C 1 /C 2 concentrated fourth vaporous phase and to provide a first C 3 /C 4 concentrated stream; e. separating at least a portion of said first C 3 /C 4 concentrated stream, in a second fractionation zone, at fractionation conditions selected to recover a second C 3 /C 4 concentrated stream and to provide a C 1 /C 2 concentrated fifth vaporous phase; and, f. combining at least a portion of said C 1 /C 2 concentrated fifth vaporous phase with said first liquid phase and introducing the resulting mixture into said second separation zone.