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:
Jul. 04, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2003
Sanjiv N. Patel, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Jorge H. Foglietta, Missouri City, TX (US);
Sanjiv N. Patel, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Jorge H. Foglietta, Missouri City, TX (US);
ABB Lummus Global Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A two-tower scheme process for the recovery of propane and heavier components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and then separated to give a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is sent to a distillation tower that recovers at the bottoms a major portion of propane and heavier components and produces an overhead gas stream. First vapor stream is expanded and sent as bottom feed to the absorber. Absorber produces an absorber overhead stream containing essentially all the ethane and lighter components and an absorber bottoms stream. Absorber bottoms stream is heated and sent to the distillation tower as middle feed. Absorber overhead stream is warmed and optionally compressed. A part of the compressed stream is substantially condensed and sent to absorber as top feed. The process and apparatus can be used to recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbons.