US4004430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for treating natural gas
Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
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Filing: 1974-09-30
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Granted: 1977-01-25
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Expires: 1994-09-30
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a process and apparatus for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas by heating the natural gas stream prior to the expansion and introduction thereof into a demethanizer operating under cryogenic conditions. Ethane and the heavier hydrocarbons are recovered from the demethanizer as well as a residual gaseous methane stream which is compressed to a pipeline receiving pressure by the work of expansion without requiring a booster compressor.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen M. Solomon
- 👤 Sidney Shaievitz
- 👤 Louis Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:26
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/0238; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/005; F25J3/0204; F25J3/0209; F25J3/0233; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/02; F25J2200/74; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/08; F25J2230/20; F25J2230/60; F25J2240/00; F25J2240/02; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A process for treating gaseous natural gas stream including carbon dioxide and water vapor to recover ethane, which comprises: a. heating said gaseous natural gas stream; b. expanding said gaseous natural gas stream; c. passing said expanded natural gas stream through a drying section to remove water vapor; d. introducing into a demethanizer zone said dried and expanded natural gas stream of step (c) to separate a methane-enriched gaseous stream from an ethane-enriched stream; e. withdrawing said ethane-enriched stream from said demethanizer zone; f. withdrawing said methane-enriched gaseous stream from said demethanizer zone; and g. compressing at least a major portion of said methane-enriched stream to a delivery pressure by the work produced by expanding said gaseous natural gas stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for treating gaseous natural gas stream including carbon dioxide and water vapor to recover ethane, which comprises: a. heating said gaseous natural gas stream; b. expanding said gaseous natural gas stream; c. passing said expanded natural gas stream through a drying section to remove water vapor; d. introducing into a demethanizer zone said dried and expanded natural gas stream of step (c) to separate a methane-enriched gaseous stream from an ethane-enriched stream; e. withdrawing said ethane-enriched stream from said demethanizer zone; f. withdrawing said methane-enriched gaseous stream from said demethanizer zone; and g. compressing at least a major portion of said methane-enriched stream to a delivery pressure by the work produced by expanding said gaseous natural gas stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said delivery pressure equals the pressure of said gaseous natural gas stream
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said expanded gaseous natural gas is cooled prior to introduction into said demethanizer zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as defined in claim 3 wherein said expanded gaseous natural gas stream is at a pressure of between about 450 to 500 psia. prior to introduction into said demethanizer zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as defined in claim 4 wherein a major portion of said carbon dioxide in said gaseous natural gas stream is withdrawn from said dementhanizer zone in said methane-enriched gaseous stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein a minor portion of said methane-enriched gaseous stream is passed in indirect contact with a heat transfer medium to recover the cold potential of said minor portion of said methane-enriched gaseous stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as defined in claim 6 wherein said minor portion of said methane-enriched gaseous stream is utilized to regenerate a desiccant utilized to remove water from said expanded natural gas stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as defined in claim 7 wherein said minor portion of said methane-enriched gaseous stream is utilized to provide the energy requirements of the process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said expanded natural gas feed to said demethanizer zone is at a pressure of between about 450 to 500 psia.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for treating a gaseous natural gas stream including water vapor to recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbon which comprises: a. means for heating said gaseous natural gas stream; b. expander means for reducing the pressure of said gaseous natural gas stream; c. drier means for removing water therefrom; d. a demethanizer for separating said expanded natural gas stream into a methane-enriched gaseous stream and an ethane-enriched stream; and e. compressor means for raising the pressure of said methane-enriched gaseous stream.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for treating a gaseous natural gas stream including water vapor to recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbon which comprises: a. means for heating said gaseous natural gas stream; b. expander means for reducing the pressure of said gaseous natural gas stream; c. drier means for removing water therefrom; d. a demethanizer for separating said expanded natural gas stream into a methane-enriched gaseous stream and an ethane-enriched stream; and e. compressor means for raising the pressure of said methane-enriched gaseous stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |