Patent ID: 9291387
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: F25J

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for separating natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream, the apparatus comprising: (a) a heat exchanger operable to provide the heating and cooling necessary for separation of natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream by heat exchange contact between the feed gas stream and one or more process streams; (b) a distillation column for receiving the feed gas stream directly from the heat exchanger and separating the feed gas stream into a column overhead stream comprising a substantial amount of the lighter hydrocarbon components of the feed gas stream and a column bottoms stream comprising a substantial amount of the heavier hydrocarbon components; (c) a separator for receiving the distillation column overhead stream and separating the column overhead stream into an overhead sales gas stream and a bottoms stream comprising a mixed refrigerant for providing process cooling in the heat exchanger; (d) a compressor for compressing the mixed refrigerant stream after the mixed refrigerant stream has provided process cooling in the heat exchanger; and (e) a line for passing the compressed mixed refrigerant stream to the distillation column as a reflux stream.