Patents Assigned to S.M.E. Products LLP
  • Patent number: 9939195
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd., S.M.E. Products LLP
    Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar