Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Ransdall K Smith

Jaime A Valencia

Charles John Mart

David W Maher

Ananda K Nagavarapu

Russell H Oelfke

E Lawrence Kimble

Scott D Kelman

A cryogenic distillation tower for separating a feed stream. The tower includes a distillation section. A controlled freeze zone section is situated above the distillation section and forms a solid from the feed stream. The controlled freeze zone section includes a spray assembly in an upper section and a melt tray assembly in a lower section. The melt tray assembly includes at least one vapor stream riser that directs the vapor from the distillation section into liquid retained by the melt tray assembly, and one or more draw-off openings positioned to permit a portion of the liquid to exit the controlled freeze zone section. The portion of the liquid indirectly exchanges heat with a heating fluid. One or more return inlets return the portion of the liquid to the melt tray assembly after it has been heated in the heat exchanger.

Mixing and heat integration of melt tray liquids in a cryogenic distillation tower

A method of separating a feed stream in a distillation tower. Vapor is permitted to rise upwardly from a distillation section of the distillation tower. A feed stream is introduced into a controlled freeze zone section of the distillation tower, the controlled freeze zone section being situated above the distillation section. The feed stream is released above a level of a liquid retained by a melt tray assembly in the controlled freeze zone section. Vapor from the distillation section is directed into the liquid retained by the melt tray assembly. A solid is formed from the feed stream in the controlled freeze zone section.

Hybrid tray for introducing a low CO2 feed stream into a distillation tower

A method and a system for feeding a feed gas including methane (CH) and carbon dioxide (CO) to a cryogenic distillation column are provided herein. The method includes flowing a freeze zone COvapor stream into a freezing section of the column to produce an overhead stream that exits the column. The method includes heating the overhead stream via a heating component to reduce or prevent solidification of the COin the overhead stream.

Heating component to reduce solidification in a cryogenic distillation system

Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing streams through adsorbent bed units to treat the feed stream to form a stream that complies with nitrogen rejection specifications. The process may involve using at least a portion of the nitrogen rejection process product streams as a purge for the swing adsorption process.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Ransdall K Smith