Patent AU-2012354774-B2 (AU)
Title: Method and apparatus for removing nitrogen from a cryogenic hydrocarbon composition
Inventor: SANTOS ALEXANDRE M C R
IPC: F25J1/00
Filed: 2012-12-10
Granted: 2015-09-10
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date W O 2013/087571 A3 20 June 2013 (20.06.2013) WI PO I P CT (51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every F25J3/02 (2006.01) F25J1/02 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, F25J 1/00 (2006.01) AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, ) .a BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, (21) International Application Number: DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, PCT/EP2012/074959 HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, (22) International Filing Date: KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, 10 December 2012 (10.12.2012) ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, (25) Filing Language: English RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, (26) Publication Language: English TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: 11192920.4 12 December 2011 (12.12.2011) EP (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): SHELL GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, B.V. [NL/NL]; Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, NL-2596 HR TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, The Hague (NL). EE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, (71) Applicant (for US only): SHELL OIL COMPANY MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, [US/US]; PO Box 2463, One Shell Plaza, Houston, Texas TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, 77252-2463 (US). ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). (72) Inventor: SANTOS, Alexandre, M.C.R.; Bangunan Shell Declarations under Rule 4.17: Malaysia, Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights, Kuala - as to applicant's entitlement to applyfor and be granted a Lumpur, 50490 (MY). patent (Rule 4.17(ii)) (74) Agent: MATTHEZING, Robert Maarten; P.O. Box 384, NL-2501 CJ The Hague (NL). [Continued on next page] (54) Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NITROGEN FROM A CRYOGENIC HYDROCARBON COMPOS (57) Abstract: Nitrogen is removed from a cryogenic 85 789 80 hydrocarbon composition. A least a first portion of the 220 cryogenic hydrocarbon composition is fed to a nitrogen S--- - - 34 stripper column. The nitrogen stripper column operates 86I at a stripping pressure. A stripping vapour is passed - into the nitrogen stripper column, comprising at least a 3 132 33 stripping portion of a compressed process vapour that has been produced from the nitrogen-stripped liquid 87 76 which has been depressurized after drawing it from the nitrogen stripper column. Reflux is generated in - 39 7 volving partially condensing overhead vapour of the 1 7 10 nitrogen stripper column by passing heat from the overhead vapour to an auxiliary refrigerant stream at a '73 cooling duty. An off gas consisting of a, non-con - 71 ,79 densed, vapour fraction from the overhead vapour is discharged. The cooling duty is adjusted to regulate a 65 ,6o 70 heating value of the vapour fraction being discharged. LC -9 WO 2013/087571 A3 ||IllllI||IllV||IlIlllllIllIIl1|||1II||||||||||II|I||1||||111|I|||||111|||1|1|1|I||||||||||||| Published: (88) Date of publication of the international search report: - with international search report (Art. 21(3)) 1 May 2014 - before the expiration of the time limit for amending the claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of amendments (Rule 48.2(h))