Patent ID: 7159417
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: F25J

Abstract:
1. A process for separating an inlet gas stream containing methane and lighter components, C2 components, C3 components and heavier hydrocarbons into a more volatile gas fraction containing substantially all of the methane and lighter components and a less volatile hydrocarbon fraction containing a major portion of C2 components, C3 components and heavier hydrocarbons, the process comprising the steps of: (a) cooling and partially condensing a feed gas stream having a feed gas pressure to provide a cooled feed stream; (b) separating the cooled feed stream into a first vapor stream and a first liquid stream; (c) splitting the first vapor stream into a first gas streamand a second gas stream; (d) expanding the first gas stream to a low pressure so that the first gas stream forms a lower tower feed stream; (e) supplying a fractionation tower with the lower tower feed stream, a first tower feed stream, and a second tower feed stream, the fractionation tower separating the lower tower feed stream, the first tower feed stream, and the second tower feed stream into a tower bottoms stream and a tower overhead stream; (f) warming the tower overhead stream to produce a residue gas stream; and (g) wherein an improvement includes: