Linde Aktiengesellschaft

Other

Christian Pfeiffer

Manfred Steinbauer

Arne Olav Fredheim

Pentti Paurola

Oystein Sorensen

Rudolf Stockmann

Christian Matten

Wolfgang G Forg

Manfred Bolt

Manfred B&ouml;lt

Wolfgang F&ouml;rg

The invention relates to a column comprising a jacket that bounds at least a first jacket space (M) and a second jacket space arranged thereabove along the longitudinal axis (L). The e first jacket space is separated from the second jacket space by a gas-permeable first chimney tray. A gaseous phase flows upward into the first jacket space, through the first chimney tray into the second jacket space, and then flows upward into the second jacket space. In the first jacket space the gaseous phase (M), in counter-current flow, contacts a first liquid washing agent, and in the second jacket space the gaseous phase, in counter-current flow, contacts a second liquid washing agent. The first chimney tray has a separator for separating the second washing agent, which separates the second washing agent (W') and directs it into the second jacket space. The invention further relates to an apparatus comprising the column and a method for separating COfrom a gaseous phase.

Column

In the liquefaction of a hydrocarbon by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant mixture of a refrigerant mixture cycle, the refrigerant mixture being compressed in multiple stages, the compressed refrigerant mixture ( ) is at least partially condensed (E ) downstream of the penultimate compressor stage and is fractionated (D ) into a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ) and a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ). The lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) is compressed to the final pressure, partially condensed (E ) and fractionated (D ) into a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) and a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ). The higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ) is added to the partially condensed refrigerant mixture stream ( ), and the gas fraction ( ) forms the lower-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction and the liquid fraction ( ) forms the higher boiling refrigerant mixture fraction of the refrigerant mixture cycle. Alternatively, the compressed refrigerant mixture ( ) can be partially condensed (E , E , E ) after each compressor stage and fractionated in each case into a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) and a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ). Only the gas fraction ( ) from the partial condensation (E , E ) in each case is further compressed and the liquid fractions ( ) from the second fractionation (D , D ) are added to the partially condensed stream ( ) from the first compressor stage upstream of its fractionation (D ). The gas fraction ( ) from the final fractionation (D ) forms the lower-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction and the liquid fraction ( ) from the first fractionation (D ) forms the higher-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction of the refrigerant mixture cycle.

Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream

The invention relates to a method for liquefying a stream rich in hydrocarbons, especially a stream of natural gas, by the indirect exchange of heat with the refrigerants in a closed-circuit cascade of mixed refrigerants. According to the invention, said closed-circuit cascade of mixed refrigerants consists of at least 3 circuits of mixed refrigerants, with each circuit comprising different refrigerants. The first of the three mixed refrigerant circuits is used for pre-cooling (E,), the second for liquefying E,), and the third for super-cooling (E,) the hydrocarbon-rich stream (,) to be liquefied. The method provided for in the invention reduces specific energy consumption and investment costs since the three circuits of mixed refrigerants are or can be optimally adjusted to the enthalpy temperature curves of the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied and the refrigerant mixtures.

Method for liquefying a stream rich in hydrocarbons

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Pullach, Germany

Christian Pfeiffer