Patent ID: 6223557
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: F17C,F25J

Abstract:
A process for producing pressurized liquefied natural gas that is lean in a component more volatile than methane from a natural gas feed stream containing the more volatile component, comprising the steps of:(a) passing the feed stream to a fractionation system to produce a first liquid lean in the volatile component and a first vapor of enhanced volatile component content;(b) cooling the first vapor to produce a vapor phase and a liquid phase;(c) phase separating the vapor phase and liquid phase of step (b) to produce a second vapor stream and a second liquid stream;(d) returning the second liquid stream to the fractionation system as reflux; and(e) removing from the fractionation system the first liquid as a liquid product stream lean in the volatile component and having a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point.