Process for separating hydroprocessed effluent streams

Claim 1

A process for separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbonaceous effluent originating from the conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in the presence of hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in a multiple separator system, which effluent contains hydrogen, normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous components and normally gaseous hydrocarbonaceous components, said process comprising the steps of: (a) separating said effluent in a first separation zone into a first liquid phase (L1) and a first vapor phase (V1), said first separation zone being operated at a temperature in the range of 200° to 350° C. and in such a manner that between 25 and 75% by weight of said effluent is recovered as said first vapor phase (V1); (b) cooling said first vapor phase (V1) to a temperature in the range of 25° to 85° C. and separating said cooled first vapor phase in a second separation zone into a second liquid phase (L2) and a second, hydrogen-rich vapor phase (V2), said second separation zone being operated at substantially the same pressure as said first separation zone; (c) separating said first liquid phase (L1) in a third separation zone into a third liquid phase (L3) and a third vapor phase (V3), said third separation zone being operated at a pressure below 60 bar while substantially maintaining the temperature of said first separation zone; and (d) separating said second liquid phase (L2) in a fourth separation zone into a fourth liquid phase (L4) and a fourth vapor phase (V4), said fourth liquid phase being at least partly recovered as a product, and wherein said fourth separation zone is operated at a pressure below 60 bar while substantially maintaining said zone at the temperature of said second separation zone.