US4677235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of aromatic hydrocarbons from natural gas
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
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Filing: 1986-03-07
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2006-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for the conversion of at least a portion of the light hydrocarbons, such as propane, present in a natural gas feed stream into C 6 -plus hydrocarbons including benzene. Noncondensibles such as hydrogen and nitrogen are separated from both the natural gas feed stream and from a reaction zone effluent stream in a common vapor-liquid separation vessel. The liquid stream produced in this initial separation is subjected to fractional distillation which recovers the C 6 -plus product hydrocarbons and a stream of lighter hydrocarbons, which is passed into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Mowry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:14
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C2/00; C07C2/76; C07C2523/00; C07C2523/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) compressing and passing a hereinafter characterized reaction zone effluent stream comprising hydrogen, propane and C 6 -plus hydrocarbons into a separation zone operated at a pressure in excess of 400 psig; (b) passing a natural gas feed stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane and propane into the separation zone; (c) withdrawing from the separation zone a separation zone off-gas stream comprising nitrogen and hydrogen and a first process stream comprising ethane, propane and C 6 -plus hydrocarbons; (d) passing the first process stream into a fractionation zone and therein separating the first process stream into at least a second process stream, which comprises propane, and a first product stream, which comprises C 6 -plus hydrocarbons and is withdrawn from the process; and, (e) passing the second process stream into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone maintained at dehydrocyclodimerization conditions including a pressure under 100 psig, and producing the previously referred to reaction zone effluent stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) compressing and passing a hereinafter characterized reaction zone effluent stream comprising hydrogen, propane and C 6 -plus hydrocarbons into a separation zone operated at a pressure in excess of 400 psig; (b) passing a natural gas feed stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane and propane into the separation zone; (c) withdrawing from the separation zone a separation zone off-gas stream comprising nitrogen and hydrogen and a first process stream comprising ethane, propane and C 6 -plus hydrocarbons; (d) passing the first process stream into a fractionation zone and therein separating the first process stream into at least a second process stream, which comprises propane, and a first product stream, which comprises C 6 -plus hydrocarbons and is withdrawn from the process; and, (e) passing the second process stream into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone maintained at dehydrocyclodimerization conditions including a pressure under 100 psig, and producing the previously referred to reaction zone effluent stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the separation zone off-gas stream comprises methane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 2 further limited in that a third process stream comprising methane is produced in the fractionation zone and discharged from the process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that a bed of a catalyst comprising gallium is present within the reaction zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for upgrading hydrocarbons contained in natural gas, which process comprises the steps of: (a) compressing and passing a hereinafter characterized reaction zone effluent stream comprising hydrogen, ethane, propane and C 6 -plus aromatic hydrocarbons into a vapor-liquid separation zone operated at conditions, including a pressure in excess of 400 psig, effective to separate entering chemicals into a vapor-phase off-gas stream comprising hydrogen and nitrogen and a liquid-phase first process stream comprising ethane, propane and C 6 -plus aromatic hydrocarbons; (b) passing a natural gas feed stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane and butane into the vapor-liquid separation zone; (c) passing the first process stream into a second separation zone operated at conditions effective to separate entering hydrocarbons of the first process stream into at least a second process stream, which comprises propane, and a first product stream, which product stream comprises C 6 -plus hydrocarbons and is withdrawn from the process; and , (d) passing the second process stream into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone operated at dehydrocyclodimerization conditions which include a pressure under 100 psig and producing the previously referred to reaction zone effluent stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for upgrading hydrocarbons contained in natural gas, which process comprises the steps of: (a) compressing and passing a hereinafter characterized reaction zone effluent stream comprising hydrogen, ethane, propane and C 6 -plus aromatic hydrocarbons into a vapor-liquid separation zone operated at conditions, including a pressure in excess of 400 psig, effective to separate entering chemicals into a vapor-phase off-gas stream comprising hydrogen and nitrogen and a liquid-phase first process stream comprising ethane, propane and C 6 -plus aromatic hydrocarbons; (b) passing a natural gas feed stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane and butane into the vapor-liquid separation zone; (c) passing the first process stream into a second separation zone operated at conditions effective to separate entering hydrocarbons of the first process stream into at least a second process stream, which comprises propane, and a first product stream, which product stream comprises C 6 -plus hydrocarbons and is withdrawn from the process; and , (d) passing the second process stream into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone operated at dehydrocyclodimerization conditions which include a pressure under 100 psig and producing the previously referred to reaction zone effluent stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 5 further characterized in that the vapor-phase off-gas stream comprises methane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that a third process stream comprising methane is produced in the second separation zone and is discharged from the process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that the second separation zone comprises at least one fractionation column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8 further characterized in that a bed of dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst comprising gallium is present within the reaction zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 8 further characterized in that the natural gas feed stream comprises C 6 hydrocarbons.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-29 | 1990-12-29 | 1991-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-12-29 | 1995-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-29 | 1998-12-29 | 1999-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |