The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 1979
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1976
Roy E Campbell, Midland, TX (US);
John D Wilkinson, Midland, TX (US);
The Ortloff Corporation, Midland, TX (US);
Abstract
A process for separating hydrocarbon gases is described for the recovery of gases such as ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas streams or similar refinery or process streams. In the process described, the gas to be separated is cooled at a high pressure to produce partial condensation, and the vapor and liquid portions are separated. Liquid from the partial condensation is further cooled and then expanded to a lower pressure. At the lower pressure, the liquid is supplied to a distillation column, wherein it is separated into fractions. The vapor portion is work-expanded to the operating pressure of the distillation column and supplied to the distillation column below the feed point of the expanded liquid portion. The operating efficiency of the process is improved by turning back at least part of thevapor portion and warming it by heat exchange against incoming feed before it is work-expanded. By thus warming the vapor, more work and refrigeration can be recovered in the work expansion machine.