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:
Dec. 25, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2004
Nobuhiro Yoshida, Chiba, JP;
Shoichi Yamaguchi, Chiba, JP;
Susumu Ohara, Chiba, JP;
Akhilesh Kumar, Chiba, JP;
Nobuhiro Yoshida, Chiba, JP;
Shoichi Yamaguchi, Chiba, JP;
Susumu Ohara, Chiba, JP;
Akhilesh Kumar, Chiba, JP;
Toyo Engineering Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus and process for separating a feed liquefied natural gas containing at least methane and a hydrocarbon less volatile the methane, into a product natural gas enriched with methane and lean in hydrocarbon less volatile than methane and a heavier fraction lean in methane and enriched with hydrocarbon less volatile than methane. The process includes heating the feed liquefied natural gas in a heat exchanger, passing the heated fluid into a distillation column, withdrawing the heavier fraction from a bottom of the column, and withdrawing a residue gas from a top of the column. The process also includes liquefying at least part of the residue gas in the heat exchanger, refluxing a part of the liquid portion of the fluid obtained in the liquefying step into the column, and withdrawing, as the product narutal gas, the remainder of the liquid portion.