Process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas stream from the effluent of a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone

Claim 2

A process to provide a purified hydrogen-rich gas stream and to maximize recovery of C 3 + hydrocarbons from a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction effluent containing hydrogen and hydrocarbons by treating said effluent from a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone comprising the steps of: (a) passing said catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction effluent containing hydrogen and hydrocarbons to a first vapor-liquid equilibrium zone, recovering therefrom a hydrogen-containing vapor phase and recycling a first portion thereof to said hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone; (b) drying at least a second portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase by removing water therefrom and thereafter cooling the dried portion by indirect heat exchange with a hereinafter defined hydrogen-rich gas stream; (c) passing the dried, cooled portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase to a second vapor-liquid equilibrium separation zone to produce a liquid stream comprising C 3 + light hydrocarbons, which are recovered from said process, and a purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; (d) expanding at least a portion of said purified hydrogen-rich gas stream and thereafter subjecting it to indirect heat exchange with the dried portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase pursuant to step (b) above; and, (e) recovering said heat exchanged purified hydrogen-rich gas stream.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the expansion of said portion of the hydrogen-rich gas stream is effecied by use of a turboexpander means.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein the turboexpander means is connected to a shaft for the production of shaft power.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein the shaft is connected to electrical power generation means and the shaft power is utilized for the production of electrical power.

Claim 6

The process of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the electrical power produced is passed to a power grid system.

Claim 7

The process of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the electrical power produced is utilized to drive a compressor means for the compression of a second portion of the first hydrogen-containing vapor phase.

Claim 8

The process of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the shaft power produced is utilized to drive a compressor means for the recycling of said first portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone is a catalytic reforming reaction zone.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the catalytic hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone is a dehydrogenation reaction zone.

Claim 11

A process to produce a purified hydrogen rich gas stream and to maximize recovery of C 3 + hydrocarbons from a catalytic hydrocarbon reforming effluent containing hydrogen and hydrocarbons by treating said effluent from a catalyst reforming reaction zone comprising the steps of: (a) passing said effluent to a first vapor-liquid equilibrium zone and recovering therefrom a hydrogen-containing vapor phase; (b) subjecting a first portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase to compression and recycling at least part of the compressed first portion to the catalytic reforming reaction zone; (c) drying a second portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase by removing water therefrom and thereafter cooling the dried portion by indirect heat exchange with a hereinafter defined purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; (d) passing the dried, cooled portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase to a second vapor-liquid equilibrium separation zone to produce a liquid stream comprising C 3 + light hydrocarbons, which are recovered from said process, and a purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; (e) subjecting at least a portion of said purified hydrogen-rich gas stream to an expansion and thereafter subjecting it to indirect heat exchange with the dried second portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase pursuant to step (c) above, and effecting the compression in step (b) above at least in part with energy resulting from said expansion of a portion of said purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; and, (f) recovering said heat exchanged purified hydrogen-rich gas stream.

Claim 12

A process to produce a purified hydrogen rich gas stream and to maximize recovery of C 3 + hydrocarbons from a catalytic hydrocarbon reforming effluent containing hydrogen and hydrocarbons by treating said effluent from a catalyst reforming reaction zone comprising the steps of: (a) passing said effluent to a first vapor-liquid equilibrium zone and recovering therefrom a hydrogen-containing vapor phase; (b) subjecting a first portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase to compression and recycling at least part of the compressed first portion to the catalytic reforming reaction zone; (c) drying a second portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase by removing water therefrom and thereafter cooling the dried portion by indirect heat exchange with a hereinafter defined purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; (d) passing the dried, cooled portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase to a second vapor-liquid equilibrium separation zone to produce a liquid stream comprising C 3 + light hydrocarbons, which are recovered from said process, and a purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; (e) subjecting at least a portion of said purified hydrogen-rich gas stream to an expansion and thereafter subjecting it to indirect heat exchange with the dried second portion of the hydrogen-containing vapor phase pursuant to step (c) above, and effecting the compression in step (b) above at least in part with energy resulting from said expansion of a portion of said purified hydrogen-rich gas stream; and, (f) recovering said heat exchanged purified hydrogen-rich gas stream.