Patent ID: 6098425
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: F25J,Y02C

Abstract:
A method of separating the feed gas into a first supply component and a second supply component, the first supply component having a lower boiling point than the second supply component, the method comprising:providing a first separation vessel and a second separation vessel,arranging the separation vessels such that components of a lower boiling point move upwardly in the respective separation vessel as gas toward a top of the respective vessel and such that components of a higher boiling point move downwardly in the respective separation vessel toward a bottom of the respective vessel as liquid,supplying the feed gas to one of the first and second separation vessels,transferring liquid from the bottom of the first vessel to the second vessel,extracting gas from the top of said first vessel as the first supply component,extracting liquid from a bottom of said second vessel as the second supply component,wherein the improvement comprises providing a recycle fractionator vessel separate from the first and second vessels,transferring gas from a top of the second vessel to the recycle fractionator vessel,condensing some of the gas to liquid within the recycle fractionator vessel,extracting gas from a top of the recycle fractionator vessel condensing the extracted gas and transferring the extracted gas when condensed to the first vessel as a cooled reflux,and extracting liquid from a bottom of the recycle fractionator vessel and transferring the extracted liquid to the second vessel as a cooled reflux.