Fractionation of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A process for fractionating hydrocarbons which comprises the steps of: a. passing a feed stream into a fractionation column at a first intermediate point while the fractionation column is operated at conditions effective to cause the fractionation of the feed stream; b. withdrawing a bottoms product stream from the fractionation column; c. withdrawing an overhead vapor stream from the fractionation column, passing the overhead vapor stream through a condensing means, and passing a resultant mixed phase hydrocarbon stream into an overhead receiver; d. removing a liquid hydrocarbon stream from the overhead receiver and dividing the liquid hydrocarbon stream into a first aliquot portion and a second aliquot portion; e. removing a liquid sidecut stream from the fractionation column at a second intermediate point located above the first intermediate point; f. heat exchanging the liquid sidecut stream and effecting the removal of heat therefrom, and dividing the liquid sidecut stream into a first aliquot portion and a second aliquot portion; g. admixing the first portion of the liquid hydrocarbon stream with the first portion of the liquid sidecut stream, and passing the resultant admixture into the fractionation column as a reflux stream; and, h. admixing the second portion of the liquid hydrocarbon stream with the second portion of the liquid sidecut stream and removing the resultant admixture as a product stream of the fractionation column.