US4057403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas treating process
Assignee: Fluor Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-29
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Granted: 1977-11-08
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Expires: 1993-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Gaseous hydrocarbon streams such as natural gas streams are acid gas depleted and reduced to pipeline specification moisture content using a single absorbent: a particular amino ethyl ether; in two steps providing in sequence, counter-current multi-stage absorption and at least one dehydrating contact stage with fresh absorbent at low temperature, to effect moisture removal down to 4 pounds of water per MMSCF of gas and even lower water content. The use of a single chemical as absorbent rather than two absorbents means lower capital investment and operating expense than heretofore required to get pipeline specification gas.
Inventors
- 👤 A. R. Valdes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:10
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1493; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/11; C10; C10G; C10G5/00; C10G5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In the process of treating a gaseous hydrocarbon stream for the removal therefrom of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide or both acid gases, and moisture, by intimately contacting the stream with a lean absorbent, said absorbent comprising an hydroxy amino ether having the general formula HO -- (CH.sub.2).sub.x - O].sub.y (CH.sub.2).sub.z NH.sub.2 wherein x is 2 or 3, y is 1 to 4 and z is 2 or 3, and gas-liquid absorbing the acid gas and a first quantity of vapor phase moisture in said absorbent, separating the acid gas-rich, moisture-containing absorbent and regenerating the absorbent with heat in a first stage; the improvement comprising in a second stage dispersing a dehydrating agent comprising additional lean absorbent in the hydrocarbon stream obtained from the first stage, cooling the absorbent-hydrocarbon stream mixture to condense residual moisture therein into solution in the absorbent separating a product gas having a moisture content of not more than 7 pounds of water per MMSCF; and regenerating the absorbent with heat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In the process of treating a gaseous hydrocarbon stream for the removal therefrom of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide or both acid gases, and moisture, by intimately contacting the stream with a lean absorbent, said absorbent comprising an hydroxy amino ether having the general formula HO -- (CH.sub.2).sub.x - O].sub.y (CH.sub.2).sub.z NH.sub.2 wherein x is 2 or 3, y is 1 to 4 and z is 2 or 3, and gas-liquid absorbing the acid gas and a first quantity of vapor phase moisture in said absorbent, separating the acid gas-rich, moisture-containing absorbent and regenerating the absorbent with heat in a first stage; the improvement comprising in a second stage dispersing a dehydrating agent comprising additional lean absorbent in the hydrocarbon stream obtained from the first stage, cooling the absorbent-hydrocarbon stream mixture to condense residual moisture therein into solution in the absorbent separating a product gas having a moisture content of not more than 7 pounds of water per MMSCF; and regenerating the absorbent with heat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1 including also combining the moisture-containing absorbents from the first and second stages for regeneration with common heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said absorbent comprises an aqueous solution containing 60 to 75% of said hydroxy amino ether.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 3 in which said aqueous absorbent solution comprises 70% by weight hydroxy amino ether.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 1 including also cooling the hydrocarbon stream in the second stage below ambient temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said hydroxy amino ether is β,β'-hydroxy amino ethyl ether.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said hydroxy amino ether is β'-hydroxy (β-amino ethoxy) ethyl ether.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
In the process of treating a gaseous hydrocarbon stream for the removal therefrom of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide or both, and moisture, by intimately contacting the stream with a lean absorbent, comprising β, β'-hydroxy amino ethyl ether or β'-hydroxy (β-amino ethoxy) ethyl ether, and absorbing the acid gas and the first quantity of vapor phase moisture in said absorbent and separating the acid gas-rich, moisture-containing absorbent from the hydrocarbon stream in a first stage, the improvement comprising in a second stage spraying dehydrating agent comprising additional lean absorbent as a 60 to 75% aqueous solution into the hydrocarbon stream obtained from the first stage, cooling the absorbent-hydrocarbon stream mixture to condense residual moisture therein into solution in the absorbent, combining the absorbents of the first and second stages, heat regenerating said absorbents together, and separating a product gas having a content of not more than 4 pounds of water per MMSCF.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
In the process of treating a gaseous hydrocarbon stream for the removal therefrom of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide or both, and moisture, by intimately contacting the stream with a lean absorbent, comprising β, β'-hydroxy amino ethyl ether or β'-hydroxy (β-amino ethoxy) ethyl ether, and absorbing the acid gas and the first quantity of vapor phase moisture in said absorbent and separating the acid gas-rich, moisture-containing absorbent from the hydrocarbon stream in a first stage, the improvement comprising in a second stage spraying dehydrating agent comprising additional lean absorbent as a 60 to 75% aqueous solution into the hydrocarbon stream obtained from the first stage, cooling the absorbent-hydrocarbon stream mixture to condense residual moisture therein into solution in the absorbent, combining the absorbents of the first and second stages, heat regenerating said absorbents together, and separating a product gas having a content of not more than 4 pounds of water per MMSCF.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process claimed in claim 8 in which the second stage absorbent is sprayed into the cooling heat exchanger inlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process claimed in claim 8 in which the second stage absorbent-hydrocarbon stream mixture is cooled to less than ambient temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 10 in which the absorbent is β, β'-hydroxy amino ethyl ether.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 10 in which the absorbent is β'-hydroxy (β-amino ethoxy) ethyl ether.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2712978A
Cited
US3531915A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |