Patent ID: 6251166
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B01D,C10L

Abstract:
A method of dehydrating a natural gas stream containing condensable and non-condensable hydrocarbons and water, the method comprising:passing the natural gas stream against flowing glycol in an absorber vessel so that the glycol absorbs water and hydrocarbons from the gas stream, thus resulting in a first mixture stream of glycol, water, condensable and non-condensable hydrocarbons in the vessel as well as a dehydrated gas stream exiting the vessel;passing the first mixture stream to an atmospheric reboiler in which there is produced vaporized water substantially free of condensable and non-condensable hydrocarbons and a second glycol stream substantially free of contaminants;wherein prior to passing the first mixture stream to the atmospheric reboiler, the first stream is heated under pressure to a temperature and pressure sufficient to remove at least 95 percent of the condensable and non-condensable hydrocarbons from the stream entering the atmospheric reboiler thus producing a stream of hydrocarbons and water and a stream entering the atmospheric reboiler of water and glycol substantially free of hydrocarbons.