Abstract: Ethane is removed from a feedstream comprising methane, ethane and higher components by dividing the feedstream and passing one stream directly to the de-ethanizer with the other stream being passed to a stabilizer in order to remove the heavier components of the natural gas stream. The overhead vapor from the stabilizer is then passed to the de-ethanizer. The overhead vapor stream passed to the de-ethanizer from the stabilizer can also be cooled in order to reduce the refrigeration load of the de-ethanizer.

Abstract: Liquid mixed refrigerant is flashed in a vapor-liquid separator from which a portion of the liquid is pumped to an evaporator. The liquid refrigerant boils and partially vaporizes in the evaporator, thereby cooling a process stream. Partially vaporized refrigerant is returned to the separator for separation of vapor from liquid. Separator vapor is countercurrently contacted with a further portion of the separator liquid in a packed section in the upper part of the separator to assure that exiting vapor passing to recompression is saturated with the heavier refrigerant component(s).