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:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1998
Donald J Victory, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Eugene R Thomas, Houston, TX (US);
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
This invention relates generally to a separation process in which a multi-component feed stream is introduced into a separation system that operates under solids forming conditions for at least one of the feed stream components. The freezable component, although typically CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S or another acid gas, can be any component that has the potential for forming solids in the separation system. The multi-component feed stream is introduced into a separation system, at least a portion of which operates under solids forming conditions for at least one component of the feed stream. A vapor stream is withdrawn from an upper region of the separation system and compressed to a higher pressure stream. At least a portion of the compressed stream is cooled and then expanded to a lower pressure to further cool the compressed stream. At least a portion of the expanded stream is returned to the separation system, thereby providing refrigeration to the separation system.