Patent ID: 8093440
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: C07C,C10G,F25J,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for separation of a feed gas containing methane, C 2 and heavier hydrocarbon components into a volatile residue gas fraction and a relatively less volatile fraction containing said C 2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, said process comprising: (a) cooling said feed gas in one or more heat exchangers and then separating the cooled feed gas in a separator into a first residue vapor and a first liquid which contains C (b) delivering a first part of said first liquid containing C (c) cooling said second residue to partially condense it; (d) cooling a second part of said first liquid containing C (e) dividing said third liquid produced in (d) into first and second parts; (f) further cooling the first part of said third liquid; (g) directing the second part of the third liquid to said heavy-ends fractionation column; (h) intimately contacting at least part of said first residue vapor with the cooled first part of third liquid from (f) in at least one contacting stage and thereafter separating a fourth residue vapor and a fourth liquid containing C (i) supplying said fourth liquid to a heat exchanger for heating said fourth liquid, and thereafter supplying said fourth liquid into said heavy-ends fractionation column as a feed thereto; (j) recovering as product the combined heated third residue vapor and said fourth residue vapor; and (j) recovering as product said second liquid stream from said heavy-ends fractionation column.