Abstract: The invention provides a process to purify a gas stream by using an adsorbent bed and a secondary device to remove heavy hydrocarbons with a recycle stream then sent first to a vessel containing an amine solvent to remove acid gases including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and then in most embodiments of the invention sending the treated gas stream to a dehydration unit such as an adsorbent bed or to a triethylene glycol absorbent to remove water. The invention further provides improved integration of the process streams to allow for smaller amine solvent and dehydration units as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A process for regenerating a temperature swing adsorption unit comprising: sending a heated purge gas stream through an adsorption bed to remove impurities from said adsorption bed and producing a contaminated stream; sending said contaminated stream to a separator to produce a liquid stream and a vapor stream; returning said vapor stream as at least a portion of said heated purge stream until said vapor stream comprises above a predetermined level of impurities; and purging a portion of said vapor stream until the heated purge stream has a level of impurities below a second predetermined level.

Abstract: A process of treating a natural gas stream is provided comprising sending natural gas stream through a first adsorbent bed to remove water and heavy hydrocarbons (C8+) to produce a partially treated gas stream in which the first adsorbent bed is regenerated by a temperature swing adsorption process and then sending the partially treated gas stream through a second adsorption bed to remove carbon dioxide and lighter hydrocarbons (C7?) to produce a purified natural gas stream wherein said second adsorption bed is regenerated by a temperature pressure swing adsorption process.

Abstract: Adsorption vessels and systems utilizing adsorption vessels are provided herein. In one embodiment, an adsorption vessel for receiving a fluid mixture and for separating a component from therein includes a vessel wall extending from a bottom end to a top end and defining a vessel chamber. A bottom inlet is formed in the bottom end of the adsorption vessel for introducing the fluid mixture to the vessel chamber. A filler material having a total porosity of less than about 25% and a density less than about 900 kg/m3 or an insert or both are positioned in the top void volume to increase overall performance of the adsorbent vessel.

Abstract: This invention uses a fixed-bed adsorber, interchangeably called a capacitor herein, to process the product stream coming out of a regenerable adsorption system such as a temperature swing adsorption system (TSA) or pressure swing adsorption system (PSA). The fluid stream coming out of this fixed-bed capacitor will have a more uniform composition than the one entering the adsorption system or the capacitor. The fixed-bed adsorber operates in a once-through non-cyclic manner, similar to a conventional fixed bed reactor or adsorber.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to smooth out the concentration peak generated from the regeneration stream of a cyclic adsorption process such as PTSA or TSA process. A fixed-bed adsorber (called a capacitor) to process the spent regeneration gas from a TPSA or TSA unit to maintain a constant composition of the spent regeneration gas to the downstream unit. The adsorber operates in a once-through non-cyclic manner, very similar to the conventional fixed bed reactor or adsorber. The spent regeneration gas stream coming out of the adsorber will have a more uniform CO2 composition than without the capacitor.

Abstract: Process for retrofitting existing processing units for natural gas fee streams. A portion of the dehydration adsorbent is removed from the vessels of the dehydration unit and is replaced with an adsorbent for heavy hydrocarbons. In operation the vessels are operated in thermal swing adsorption processes with reduced cycle times compared to the original design.

Abstract: A process is provided to treat a natural gas stream by removing heavier hydrocarbons comprising C5, C6 and heavier hydrocarbons. The process involves sending a natural gas stream through an adsorbent bed to remove heavier hydrocarbons and producing a product stream comprising C1 to C4 hydrocarbons. A portion of the product stream is sent through a regeneration heater to produce a heated regeneration gas stream which is sent through the adsorbent bed to desorb the heavier hydrocarbons. Then the regeneration gas stream is cooled and sent to a separation unit such as a distillation column to divide the regeneration gas stream into a liquid stream comprising heavier hydrocarbons and a recovered regeneration gas stream.

Abstract: Adsorption vessels and systems utilizing adsorption vessels are provided herein. In one embodiment, an adsorption vessel for receiving a fluid mixture and for separating a component from therein includes a vessel wall extending from a bottom end to a top end and defining a vessel chamber. A bottom inlet is formed in the bottom end of the adsorption vessel for introducing the fluid mixture to the vessel chamber. A filler material having a total porosity of less than about 25% and a density less than about 900 kg/m3 or an insert or both are positioned in the top void volume to increase overall performance of the adsorbent vessel.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to smooth out the concentration peak generated from the regeneration stream of a cyclic adsorption process such as PTSA or TSA process. A fixed-bed adsorber (called a capacitor) to process the spent regeneration gas from a TPSA or TSA unit to maintain a constant composition of the spent regeneration gas to the downstream unit. The adsorber operates in a once-through non-cyclic manner, very similar to the conventional fixed bed reactor or adsorber. The spent regeneration gas stream coming out of the adsorber will have a more uniform CO2 composition than without the capacitor.

Abstract: A process of treating a natural gas stream is provided comprising sending natural gas stream through a first adsorbent bed to remove water and heavy hydrocarbons (C8+) to produce a partially treated gas stream in which the first adsorbent bed is regenerated by a temperature swing adsorption process and then sending the partially treated gas stream through a second adsorption bed to remove carbon dioxide and lighter hydrocarbons (C7?) to produce a purified natural gas stream wherein said second adsorption bed is regenerated by a temperature pressure swing adsorption process.

Abstract: A process is provided to treat a natural gas stream by removing heavier hydrocarbons comprising C5, C6 and heavier hydrocarbons. The process involves sending a natural gas stream through an adsorbent bed to remove heavier hydrocarbons and producing a product stream comprising C1 to C4 hydrocarbons. A portion of the product stream is sent through a regeneration heater to produce a heated regeneration gas stream which is sent through the adsorbent bed to desorb the heavier hydrocarbons. Then the regeneration gas stream is cooled and sent to a separation unit such as a distillation column to divide the regeneration gas stream into a liquid stream comprising heavier hydrocarbons and a recovered regeneration gas stream.

Abstract: A process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending said gas stream through at least one multi-layered adsorbent bed comprising at least one layer of an adsorbent preferentially adsorbing C8+ hydrocarbons and aromatics over other impurities, at least one layer of a zeolite preferentially adsorbing carbon dioxide over other impurities and at least one layer of a zeolite preferentially removing C7? hydrocarbons over other impurities to produce a gas stream comprising methane.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to purify a gas stream by using an adsorbent bed and a secondary device to remove heavy hydrocarbons with a recycle stream then sent first to a vessel containing an amine solvent to remove acid gases including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and then in most embodiments of the invention sending the treated gas stream to a dehydration unit such as an adsorbent bed or to a triethylene glycol absorbent to remove water. The invention further provides improved integration of the process streams to allow for smaller amine solvent and dehydration units as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A process for regenerating a temperature swing adsorption unit comprising: sending a heated purge gas stream through an adsorption bed to remove impurities from said adsorption bed and producing a contaminated stream; sending said contaminated stream to a separator to produce a liquid stream and a vapor stream; returning said vapor stream as at least a portion of said heated purge stream until said vapor stream comprises above a predetermined level of impurities; and purging a portion of said vapor stream until the heated purge stream has a level of impurities below a second predetermined level.

Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption apparatuses and process is disclosed comprising passing a feed stream to a first adsorption bed to adsorb one or more contaminants from the feed stream to produce a product stream. A regeneration gas separator overhead stream is passed to a second adsorption bed to provide a second adsorption bed effluent stream. The second adsorption bed effluent stream is passed to a heater to generate a hot regeneration effluent stream. The hot regeneration effluent stream is passed to a third adsorption bed to regenerate the third adsorption bed and provide a regeneration effluent stream. At least a portion of the regeneration effluent stream is passed to a guard bed to remove sulfur and oxygen compounds to provide a treated regeneration effluent stream. The treated regeneration effluent stream is passed to a regeneration gas separator to provide the regeneration gas separator overhead stream.

Abstract: Process for retrofitting existing processing units for natural gas fee streams. A portion of the dehydration adsorbent is removed from the vessels of the dehydration unit and is replaced with an adsorbent for heavy hydrocarbons. In operation the vessels are operated in thermal swing adsorption processes with reduced cycle times compared to the original design.

Abstract: This invention uses a fixed-bed adsorber, interchangeably called a capacitor herein, to process the product stream coming out of a regenerable adsorption system such as a temperature swing adsorption system (TSA) or pressure swing adsorption system (PSA). The fluid stream coming out of this fixed-bed capacitor will have a more uniform composition than the one entering the adsorption system or the capacitor. The fixed-bed adsorber operates in a once-through non-cyclic manner, similar to a conventional fixed bed reactor or adsorber.

Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption apparatuses and process is disclosed comprising passing a feed stream to a first adsorption bed to adsorb one or more contaminants from the feed stream to produce a product stream. A regeneration gas separator overhead stream is passed to a second adsorption bed to provide a second adsorption bed effluent stream. The second adsorption bed effluent stream is passed to a heater to generate a hot regeneration effluent stream. The hot regeneration effluent stream is passed to a third adsorption bed to regenerate the third adsorption bed and provide a regeneration effluent stream. At least a portion of the regeneration effluent stream is passed to a guard bed to remove sulfur and oxygen compounds to provide a treated regeneration effluent stream. The treated regeneration effluent stream is passed to a regeneration gas separator to provide the regeneration gas separator overhead stream.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending the natural gas stream first to an adsorbent unit for removal of mercury. Then the gas stream is sent to an absorbent unit containing a chemical solvent and a physical solvent for removal of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and organic sulfur compounds to produce a partially purified natural gas stream. This stream is dehydrated and becomes the product stream. The partially purified natural gas stream to a dehydration unit to remove water to produce a natural gas product stream. The impurities absorbed by the absorption unit are removed and a liquid stream is separated that contains the sulfur impurities. This liquid stream may be purified and stabilized before being shipped for further treatment.