US4832718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing nitrogen-rich, hydrogen-rich, and olefin-rich gases with physical solvents
Assignee: ADVANCED EXTRATION TECHNOLOGIES Inc HOUSTON TX CORP OF TX
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Filing: 1987-09-23
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Granted: 1989-05-23
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Expires: 2007-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A continuous process is disclosed for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas stream which are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, higher saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by countercurrently contacting the hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of: (1) paraffinic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the paraffinic solvents, (2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the naphthenic solvents, and (3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream which is at least rich in at least one of the components and a rich solvent bottoms stream; and by recovering the lean physical solvent from the rich solvent bottoms stream and recycling the recovered stream to the contacting of Step A.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuv R. Mehra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:48
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L3/00; C10L3/06; C10L3/10; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1487; B01D53/1493; C01; C01B; C01B21/00; C01B21/04; C01B21/0405; C01B21/0433; C01B21/0488; C01B3/00; C01B3/50; C01B3/52; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/11; C10G; C10G5/00; C10G5/04; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/0415; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/048; C01B2203/0485; C01B2210/00; C01B2210/0043; C01B2210/0068; C01B2210/007; C10G2300/00; C10G2300/10; C10G2300/1025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A continuous process for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas feed stream, said components being selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, heavier saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by the following steps: A. counter-currently contacting said hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of: (1) paraffinic solvent having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said paraffinic solvents, (2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging form 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said naphthenic solvents, and (3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream which is rich in one of said components and a rich solvent bottoms stream which is rich in at lesst one of another of said components and; B. flashing said rich solvent bottoms stream to obtain said lean physical solvent and recycling the recovered solvent stream to the contacting of Step A.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A continuous process for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas feed stream, said components being selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, heavier saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by the following steps: A. counter-currently contacting said hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of: (1) paraffinic solvent having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said paraffinic solvents, (2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging form 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, said factors being independent of the aromatic content of said naphthenic solvents, and (3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream which is rich in one of said components and a rich solvent bottoms stream which is rich in at lesst one of another of said components and; B. flashing said rich solvent bottoms stream to obtain said lean physical solvent and recycling the recovered solvent stream to the contacting of Step A.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The continuous process of claim 1 wherein (1) the gas feed to countercurrent contacting of step A contains at least hydrogen and methane and produces an overhead stream of hydrogen product; (2) said flashed solvent stream additionally countercurrently contacts a hydrocarbon gas stream containing at least hydrogen, methane, ethylene and ethane to produce the said gas feed of step (1) as an overhead stream and an ethylene rich solvent bottoms stream; and (3) regenerating said ethylene rich solvent stream to produce an ethylene plus product as an overhead product and a lean regenerated solvent stream for recycling to countercurrent contact of Step A in step 1 of this claim.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said flashing produces an overhead stream which is rich in said at least another of said components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3, wherein said contacting produces a gas product stream of hydrogen and/or nitrogen and a solvent bottoms stream rich in C 1 + components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said bottoms solvent stream is flashed to produce a fuel gas product and a bottom stream of stripped solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 5, wherein said stripped solvent stream is split into a main solvent stream which is fed to said contacting of said Step A and a slipstream which is fed to a second contacting step or to a regenerastion step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The continuous process of claim 1, wherein: A. said hydrocarbon gas feed stream is a nitrogen-rich natural gas stream containing more than 3 mol % nitrogen as one said component to be separated; and B. a nitrogen product stream is separated as said overhead stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved process of claim 7 wherein said recovered solvent stream is split into: (1) a main solvent stream which is fed to said contacting of step A; and (2) a slip stream which is fed to a regenerator column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved process of claim 7, wherein: A. said flashing is conducted in at least two stages; and B. the flashed gases from the first stage of said at least two stages are compressed and recycled to said contacting of said step A.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improved process of claim 9. wherein the last stage of said at least two stages produces an overhead product stream and a bottoms stream of stripped solvent which is recycled to said contacting of said step A.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved process of claim 10, wherein said stripped solvent stream is split into: (1) a main solvent stream which is fed to said contacting of step A; and (2) a slipstream which is fed to a regenerator column.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved process of claim 11 or 8, wherein said regenerator column produces an overhead stream which is partially condensed to produce a gas product stream and a reflux stream which is returned to the top of said regenerator column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved process of claim 12, wherein said regenerator column produces a bottoms stream of lean regenerated solvent which is fed to the counter-current contacting of step A.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The continuous process of claim 1, wherein said overhead stream is a hydrogen product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved process of claim 14 wherein said recovered solvent stream is split into: (1) a main solvent stream which is fed to said contacting of step A; and (2) a slip stream which is fed to a regenerator column.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved process of claim 14 wherein: A. said flashing is conducted in at least two stages; and B. the flashed gases from the first stage of said at least two stages are compressed and recycled to said contacting of said step A.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved porcess of claim 16 wherein the last stage of the flashing stages produces a gas product stream and a bottoms stream of stripped solvent which is recycled to said contactingof said step A.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved process of claim 17, wherein said bottoms stripped solvent stream is split into: (1) a main solvent stream which is fed to said contacting of step A; and (2) a slipstream whichis fed to a regenerator column.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improved process of claim 18 or 15, wherein said regenerator column produces an overhead stream which is partially condensed to produce an overhead gas product stream and a reflux stream which is returned to the top of said regenerator column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved process of claim 19, wherein said regenerator column produces a bottoms stream of lean regenerated solvent which is fed to the counter-current contacting of step A.
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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) | 1992-05-22 | 1992-11-21 | 1993-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-11-21 | 1997-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-22 | 2000-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |