Patent ID: 6560989
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: F25J,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for the recovery of hydrogen and one or more hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms from a feed gas containing hydrogen and the one or more hydrocarbons, which process comprises:(a) cooling and partially condensing the feed gas to provide a partially condensed feed; (b) separating the partially condensed feed to provide a first liquid stream enriched in the one or more hydrocarbons and a first vapor stream enriched in hydrogen; (c) further cooling and partially condensing the first vapor stream to provide an intermediate two-phase stream; and (d) separating the intermediate two-phase stream to yield a further-enriched hydrogen stream and a hydrogen-depleted residual hydrocarbon stream; wherein some or all of the cooling in (a), or in (c), or in (a) and (c) is provided by indirect heat exchange with cold gas refrigerant generated in a closed-loop gas expander refrigeration cycle.