Downstream Of Column Patents (Class 62/622)
  • Patent number: 12111099
    Abstract: A method for processing a gas mixture containing nitrogen and methane, the gas mixture being at least partly liquefied using a mixed refrigerant circuit and is expanded in a storage tank, wherein: formed in the storage tank are a liquid phase, which is depleted in nitrogen and enriched with methane relative to the gas mixture, and a vapour phase, which is enriched with nitrogen and depleted in methane relative to the gas mixture; at least some of the vapour phase is compressed, at least partly liquefied, and subjected to low-temperature rectification; and formed in the low-temperature rectification are a top gas rich in nitrogen and lean in methane, and a bottom liquid lean in nitrogen and rich in methane. The invention provides that the partial liquefaction of the vapour phase is caused by cooling by means of heat exchange using the mixed refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Garthe
  • Patent number: 11988445
    Abstract: A system and process that are configured to prepare incoming hydrocarbon feedstocks for storage. For incoming ethane gas, the embodiments can utilize a plurality of vessels to distill the incoming feedstock to vapor and liquid ethane that is suitable for storage. The embodiments can direct the vapor to a demethanizer column that is downstream of the vessels and other components. The process can include stages for distilling an incoming feedstock at a plurality of vessels to form a vapor and a liquid for storage; directing the vapor to a demethanizer column; and circulating liquid from the demethanizer column back to the plurality of vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allen Kennedy, Mark Mulherin Salamon, Christopher Scott Yount
  • Patent number: 11920098
    Abstract: The method includes cooling and liquefying a feed gas stream, separating a stream obtained from the feed gas stream, and recovering a treated gas stream and a natural gas liquid stream. The method further includes compressing the treated gas stream in order to form a compressed treated gas stream, and fractionating the natural gas liquid stream into a plurality of hydrocarbon fractions (28, 30, 32, 33). The method additionally includes withdrawing from the compressed treated gas stream, of a recycle stream, and reintroducing the recycle stream without cooling into the feed gas stream, into the cooled feed gas stream, or into a stream obtained from the cooled feed gas stream upstream of an expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Guillaume Le Ridant, Benoit Laflotte
  • Patent number: 11745136
    Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously removing water and acid gases from methane in a single process without requiring dehydration prior to acid gas removal. A feed stream comprising these components and little or no hydrocarbons heavier than methane is separated in a series of separators, including an absorber column using methanol as an absorber. A treated methane stream comprising at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, most preferably at least 99%, of the methane from the feed stream and an acid gas waste stream comprising less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, most preferably less than 1%, of the methane from the feed stream are produced. Using methanol as a physical solvent allows removal of water and acids gases in a single step using substantially less energy than conventional separation methods. The system and method are particularly useful in treating landfill gas feed streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BCCK Holding Company
    Inventor: Rayburn C. Butts
  • Patent number: 11286216
    Abstract: A method for preparing ethylene, including: passing a feed stream containing C1 and C2 hydrocarbon compounds through a first heat exchanger and feeding the feed stream passed through the first heat exchanger to a second gas-liquid separator; feeding a part of a bottom discharge stream of the second gas-liquid separator to a demethanizer, passing an overhead discharge stream of the second gas-liquid separator through a second heat exchanger, feeding the overhead discharge stream of the second gas-liquid separator passed through the second heat exchanger to a third gas-liquid separator; feeding a bottom discharge stream of the third gas-liquid separator to the demethanizer; feeding a bottom discharge stream of the demethanizer to a C2 separator; feeding an overhead discharge stream of the C2 separator to a second compressor; passing a part of a compressed discharge stream of the second compressor through the first heat exchanger and feeding the part of the compressed discharge stream of the second compressor pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Woo Kim, In Seop Kim, Sung Kyu Lee, Joon Ho Shin, Yeon Uk Choo
  • Patent number: 10995910
    Abstract: The process comprises the following steps: mixing a gaseous stream of flash gas and a gaseous stream of boil-off gas to form a mixed gaseous flow; compressing the mixed gaseous flow in at least one compression apparatus to form a flow of compressed combustible gas; withdrawing a bypass flow in the flow of compressed combustible gas; compressing the bypass flow in at least one downstream compressor; cooling and expanding the compressed bypass flow; reheating at least a first stream derived from the expanded bypass flow in at least one downstream heat exchanger, reintroducing the first reheated stream in the mixed gaseous flow upstream from the compression apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Sylvain Vovard, Vincent Tirilly
  • Patent number: 10928128
    Abstract: A system and process that are configured to prepare incoming hydrocarbon feedstocks for storage. For incoming ethane gas, the embodiments can utilize a plurality of vessels to distill the incoming feedstock to vapor and liquid ethane that is suitable for storage. The embodiments can direct the vapor to a demethanizer column that is downstream of the vessels and other components. The process can include stages for distilling an incoming feedstock at a plurality of vessels to form a vapor and a liquid for storage; directing the vapor to a demethanizer column; and circulating liquid from the demethanizer column back to the plurality of vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allen Kennedy, Mark Mulherin Salamon, Christopher Scott Yount
  • Patent number: 10787615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for treating a flow back fluid exiting a well site following stimulation of a subterranean formation. More specifically, the invention relates to processing the flow back fluid, and separating into a carbon dioxide rich stream and a carbon dioxide depleted stream, and continuing the separation until the carbon dioxide concentration in the flow back stream until the carbon dioxide concentration in the flow back gas diminishes to a point selected in a range of about 50-80 mol % in carbon dioxide concentration, after which the lower concentration carbon dioxide flow back stream continues to be separated into a carbon dioxide rich stream which is routed to waste or flare, and a hydrocarbon rich stream is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Burgers, Raymond F. Drnevich, Minish M. Shah, David R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10760851
    Abstract: A method comprising the cooling of the feed natural-gas (15) in a first heat exchanger (16) and the introduction of the cooled feed natural-gas (40) in separator flask (18). The method further comprising dynamic expansion of a turbine input flow (46) in a first expansion turbine (22) and the introduction of the expanded flow (102) into a splitter column (26). This method includes sampling at the head of the splitter column (26) a methane-rich head stream (82) and sampling in the compressed methane-rich head stream (86) a first recirculation stream (88). The method comprises the formation of at least one second recirculation stream (96) obtained from the methane-rich head stream (82) downstream from the splitter column (26) and the formation of a dynamic expansion stream (100) from the second recirculation stream (96).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Sandra Armelle Karen Thiebault, Vanessa Marie Stéphanie Gahier, Julie Anne Gouriou, Loïc Pierre Roger Barthe
  • Patent number: 10760850
    Abstract: A liquefaction system that is configured to use a single methane expander to provide primary refrigeration duty. The liquefaction system can include a first or main heat exchanger and a fluid circuit coupled with the heat exchanger, the fluid circuit configured to circulate a process stream derived from an incoming feedstock of natural gas. The fluid circuit can comprise a compression circuit, methane expander coupled with the compression circuit and the main heat exchanger, a sub-cooling unit coupled with the methane expander, the sub-cooling unit configured to form a liquid natural gas (LNG) product from the process stream, and a first throttling device interposed between the main heat exchanger and the sub-cooling unit. The first throttling device can be configured to expand the process stream to a process pressure that corresponds with the suction pressure internal to the compression circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS, INC
    Inventors: David Allen Kennedy, John Raymond Zigtema, Deanna Koreen Hamm
  • Patent number: 10704831
    Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize feed gases that are supplied in a wide range of compositions and pressure to provide highly efficient recovery of NGL products, such as propane, utilizing isenthalpic expansion, propane refrigeration, and shell and tube exchangers are described. Plants utilizing such systems and methods can be readily reconfigured between propane recovery and ethane recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 10562768
    Abstract: A process and plant for producing a makeup synthesis gas (20) for the synthesis of ammonia, comprising: reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock (10) in a steam reformer (SMR), purification of said gas product obtaining a hydrogen synthesis gas, addition of a suitable amount of nitrogen (19) to said hydrogen synthesis gas, wherein said purification includes separation of hydrogen in a main separation unit (S1), which produces a hydrogen current (14) and a tail gas (15), and wherein further hydrogen is recovered from the said tail gas (15) in an additional separation unit (S2); some embodiments provides that an amount of gas product (24) is also fed to said additional separation unit; a corresponding method for the revamping of a front-end of an ammonia plant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Raffaele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 10436505
    Abstract: Processes and systems are provided for recovering a liquid natural gas (LNG) stream from a hydrocarbon-containing feed gas stream using a single closed-loop mixed refrigerant cycle. In particular, the processes and systems described herein can be used to separate methane from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are common components in synthesis gas and other hydrocarbon-containing gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BLACK & VEATCH HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventors: Hao Jiang, Shawn D. Hoffart
  • Patent number: 10393015
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a compressed gas stream. The compressed gas stream is cooled and liquids are removed therefrom to form a dry gas stream, which is chilled in a first heat exchanger. Liquids are separated therefrom, thereby producing a cold vapor stream and a liquids stream. A first part of the cold vapor stream is expanded to produce a cold two-phase fluid stream, and a second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled to form a cooled reflux stream. Various streams are fed into a separation column to produce a cold fuel gas stream and a low temperature liquids stream. The second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled by the cold fuel gas stream, which becomes a warmed fuel gas stream that is compressed and used with the low-temperature liquids stream to chill the dry gas stream and to cool the compressed gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Donald J. Victory, Robert D. Denton
  • Patent number: 10281208
    Abstract: In a purification method, a carbon dioxide-rich gas is cooled in a first brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchanger, the cooled gas or at least one fluid derived from the cooled gas is sent to a purification step comprising a distillation step, the purification step produces a carbon dioxide-rich liquid which is cooled, then expanded, then sent to a second heat exchanger where it is heated by means of a fluid of the method, the exchanger carrying out an indirect heat exchange only between the carbon dioxide-rich liquid and the fluid of the method, the carbon dioxide-rich liquid at least partially vaporizes in the second exchanger and the vaporized gas formed heats up again in the first exchanger to form a carbon dioxide-rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Benoit Davidian, Mathieu Leclerc
  • Patent number: 10197328
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide-rich mixture is cooled in a first brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchanger, at least one fluid derived from the cooled mixture is sent to a purification step having a distillation step and/or at least two successive partial condensation steps, the purification step produces a carbon dioxide-depleted gas which heats up again in the first exchanger, the purification step produces a carbon-dioxide rich liquid which is expanded, then sent to a second heat exchanger where it is heated by means of a fluid of the method, the exchanger carrying out an indirect heat exchange only between the carbon dioxide-rich liquid and the fluid of the method, the carbon dioxide-rich liquid at least partially vaporizes in the second exchanger and the vaporized gas formed heats up again in the first exchanger to form a carbon dioxide-rich gas which can be the end product of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploirtation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Briglia, Arthur Darde
  • Patent number: 10139157
    Abstract: An NGL recovery facility for separating ethane and heavier (C2+) components from a hydrocarbon-containing feed gas stream that utilizes a single, closed-loop mixed refrigerant cycle. The vapor and liquid portions of the feed gas stream are isenthalpically flashed and the resulting expanded streams are introduced into the NGL recovery column. Optionally, a second vapor stream can be flashed and then introduced into the recovery column at the same or lower separation stage than the flashed liquid stream. As a result, the NGL recovery facility can optimize C2+ recovery with compression costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BLACK & VEATCH HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin L. Currence
  • Patent number: 9989305
    Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize feed gases that are supplied in a wide range of compositions and pressure to provide highly efficient recovery of NGL products, such as propane, utilizing isenthalpic expansion, propane refrigeration, and shell and tube exchangers are described. Plants utilizing such systems and methods can be readily reconfigured between propane recovery and ethane recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 9903648
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the invention, a gas containing at least 50% of carbon dioxide is cooled in a first exchanger so as to produce a cooled fluid, a liquid derived from the cooled fluid is sent to a distillation column to be separated therein, a head gas is withdrawn from the distillation column and reheated in the first exchanger, a vat liquid, which is richer in carbon dioxide than the gas containing at least 50% of carbon dioxide, is withdrawn and at least a portion thereof is heated in the first exchanger, at least a first portion of the vat liquid is vaporized in the first exchanger in order to produce a vaporized portion, the vaporized portion is sent back to the column and an NOx removal column is supplied with the liquefied cycle gas produced by vaporizing and reliquefying the vat liquid from the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: Alain Briglia, Arthur Darde, Frederick Lockwood, Xavier Traversac
  • Patent number: 9823015
    Abstract: This method envisions cooling the supply flow in a first heat exchanger, separation in a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow and dividing the light upper flow into a supply fraction of a dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a supply fraction of a first distillation column. A cooled reflux flow is formed from an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the portion of the effluent being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger. The cooled reflux flow is introduced from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Vanessa Gahier, Julie Gouriou, Loic Barthe, Sandra Thiebault
  • Patent number: 9671161
    Abstract: A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate and temperature by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Sicinski, Brian Keith Johnston, Scott Robert Trautmann, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 9534178
    Abstract: A hydrogenation method and distillate two-phase hydrogenation reactor in which the size of an upper space of the reactor is greater than that of a lower catalyst bed part. The reactor comprises 2 to 4 catalyst beds. An inner component for gas replenishment and for stripping a liquid-phase stream containing impurities is arranged between at least one adjacent catalyst bed and comprises a separator plate and exhaust pipes. The separator plate is provided with multiple downcomer through holes. The separator plate is connected with a plurality of exhaust pipes. The exhaust pipes are vertically arranged above the separator plate. The top parts of the exhaust pipes are in contact with the lower part of the upper catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shoutao Ma, Ran Tian, Zhihua Zhang, Gang Wang, Famin Sun, Ruiqin Zhang, Chunmei Yu, Shengbo Sun, Xiufang Feng, Fengxuan Li, Jinling Zhu
  • Patent number: 9360249
    Abstract: Liquified petroleum gas or natural gas liquids may be recovered from liquified natural gas by receiving an input stream comprising substantially rich liquified natural gas, splitting the input stream into a direct stream and a bypass stream, heating the direct stream in a cross-exchanger to produce a stream of heat rich liquified natural gas, splitting the heated rich liquified natural gas into a primary column feed, an optional bypass stream and a secondary column feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: IHI E&C International Corporation
    Inventor: Kamal Shah
  • Patent number: 9310128
    Abstract: This method comprises cooling the supply flow in a first heat exchanger, separation in a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow and dividing the light upper flow into a supply fraction of a dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a supply fraction of a first distillation column. The method comprises forming a cooled reflux flow from an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the portion of the effluent being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger. It comprises introducing the cooled reflux flow from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Vanessa Gahier, Julie Gouriou, Loïc Barthe, Sandra Thiebault
  • Patent number: 9243842
    Abstract: A method and system for the separation of a synthesis gas and methane mixture which contains carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane with the process producing synthesis gas and liquid natural gas (LNG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Black & Veatch Corporation
    Inventor: Brian C. Price
  • Patent number: 9139436
    Abstract: A method and a device for separating argon from a gas mixture. The method includes steps of collecting the gas mixture, separating the oxygen present in the gas mixture, drying the gas mixture, and cryogenically purifying the remaining gas mixture for separating the argon in liquid form. The device for performing the method includes a collector for the gas mixture, a component for catalytic and/or adsorptive separation of oxygen from the gas mixture, a component for drying the gas mixture, and a system for cryogenically purifying the gas mixture and separating the argon in liquid form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ReiCat GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Wanner, Herbert Nickel
  • Publication number: 20150007606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technology of processing byproduct gas or natural gas and in particular to a process for low-temperature separating gas components. The technical result targeted by the present invention resides in the improvement of the degree of purifying the outgoing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Salavat Zainetdinovich Imaev, Leonard Markovich Dmitriev
  • Patent number: 8752401
    Abstract: This method comprises cooling the feed natural gas in a first heat exchanger and introducing the cooled, feed natural gas into a first separation flask. It comprises the dynamic expansion of a turbine supply flow in a first expansion turbine and introducing the expanded flow into a separation column. This method comprises removing, at the head of the separation column, a head flow rich in methane and removing a first recirculation flow from the compressed head flow rich in methane. The method comprises forming at least a second recirculation flow obtained from the head flow rich in methane downstream of the separation column and forming a dynamic expansion flow from the second recirculation flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Henri Paradowski, Sandra Thiebault, Loïc Barthe
  • Patent number: 8640495
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a carbon monoxide-containing product from a feed containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen and optionally argon. The carbon monoxide-containing product is produced using a hydrogen stripping column for forming a hydrogen-enriched vapor and a hydrogen-freed liquid, a nitrogen separation fractionator for forming a nitrogen-enriched vapor and a nitrogen-depleted liquid containing carbon monoxide and methane from the hydrogen-freed liquid, and a carbon monoxide/methane separation fractionator for forming the carbon monoxide containing product and a methane-enriched liquid from the nitrogen-depleted liquid. At least part of the nitrogen separation fractionator condenser duty provides the feed vaporization duty and reboiler duty for the carbon monoxide/methane separation fractionator, thereby reducing the energy requirement for the separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ait Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Alfred McNeil
  • Patent number: 8635885
    Abstract: NGL recovery from natural gas is achieved by processing the natural gas in a scrub column that operates at high pressure. A C3+ depleted vapor stream is generated from the vapor portion of partially condensed scrub column overhead and expanded to provide refrigeration for the vapor portion to so form a second reflux stream and the C3+ depleted vapor stream. The C3+ depleted vapor stream is then combined with another vapor portion of partially condensed column overhead to produce a lean liquefaction feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8627681
    Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Malsam
  • Patent number: 8555673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating a mixture containing carbon monoxide, nitrogen and hydrogen by cryogenic distillation in a separation system which includes a denitrification column and at least another column. The method can include separating the mixture in order to obtain a fluid enriched with carbon monoxide and containing nitrogen, separating the fluid in the denitrification column, pressurizing the carbon monoxide flow from the column in a compressor up to a high pressure, collecting a fraction of carbon monoxide flow to be used as a product, expanding an amount of the high-pressure carbon monoxide flow in a valve prior to supplying it to the denitrification column, and varying the flow expanded in the valve according to re-boiling needs of the denitrification column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société pour l'Étude et l'Éxploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Arthur Darde, Antoine Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20130255311
    Abstract: A method comprising the cooling of the feed natural-gas (15) in a first heat exchanger (16) and the introduction of the cooled feed natural-gas (40) in separator flask (18). The method further comprising dynamic expansion of a turbine input flow (46) in a first expansion turbine (22) and the introduction of the expanded flow (102) into a splitter column (26). This method includes sampling at the head of the splitter column (26) a methane-rich head stream (82) and sampling in the compressed methane-rich head stream (86) a first recirculation stream (88). The method comprises the formation of at least one second recirculation stream (96) obtained from the methane-rich head stream (82) downstream from the splitter column (26) and the formation of a dynamic expansion stream (100) from the second recirculation stream (96).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Sandra Armelle Karen Thiebault, Vanessa Marie Stéphanie Gahier, Julie Anne GOURIOU, Loïc Pierre Roger BARTHE
  • Patent number: 8522574
    Abstract: Methods of reducing the concentration of low boiling point components in liquefied natural gas are disclosed. The methods involve dynamic decompression of the liquefied natural gas and one or more pre-fractionation vessels. Particular embodiments are suited for recovering helium and/or nitrogen enriched streams from a liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Duffer Crawford, David Coyle, Bharthwaj Anantharaman
  • Patent number: 7973209
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements for the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and obtaining light olefins substantially free of carbon dioxide via amine treatment and employing fractionation processing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, John P. Brady, William J. Lechnick, Michael A. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20100223952
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a carbon monoxide-containing product from a feed containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen and optionally argon. The carbon monoxide-containing product is produced using a hydrogen stripping column for forming a hydrogen-enriched vapor and a hydrogen-freed liquid, a nitrogen separation fractionator for forming a nitrogen-enriched vapor and a nitrogen-depleted liquid containing carbon monoxide and methane from the hydrogen-freed liquid, and a carbon monoxide/methane separation fractionator for forming the carbon monoxide containing product and a methane-enriched liquid from the nitrogen-depleted liquid. At least part of the nitrogen separation fractionator condenser duty provides the feed vaporization duty and reboiler duty for the carbon monoxide/methane separation fractionator, thereby reducing the energy requirement for the separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Alfred McNeil
  • Patent number: 7713497
    Abstract: A natural gas liquid plant includes a separator (103) that receives a cooled low pressure feed gas (4), wherein the separator (103) is coupled to an absorber (108) and a demethanizer (110). Refrigeration duty of the absorber (108) and demethanizer (110) are provided at least in part by expansion of a liquid portion of the cooled low pressure feed gas (4) and an expansion of a liquid absorber bottom product (19), wherein ethane recovery is at least 85 mol % and propane recovery is at least 99 mol %. Contemplated configurations are especially advantageous as upgrades to existing plants with low pressure feed gas where high ethane recovery is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Publication number: 20090139263
    Abstract: Processes are provided for the denitrogenation of a crude LNG stream. A crude LNG stream is expanded and then cooled in a thermosyphon reboiler. The resultant crude LNG stream is introduced into a nitrogen rejection column, wherein the nitrogen content of the LNG is reduced as the liquid flows down the column. A nitrogen-enriched vapor stream is withdrawn from the top of the column, and a first, and optionally a second, nitrogen-diminished liquid stream is withdrawn from the bottom of the column. The first stream may be recovered as a LNG product, and the second stream is passed through the thermosyphon reboiler, cooling the crude LNG stream, while partially vaporizing the second stream. The vaporized second stream is reinjected into the column at a level above the level of withdrawal of the second nitrogen-diminished bottoms LNG stream to provide column boilup. Alternatively, the thermosyphon reboiler is placed within the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Adrian Brostow, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 7437891
    Abstract: A process for the recovery and purification of ethylene and optionally propylene from a stream containing lighter and heavier components that employs an ethylene distributor column and a partially thermally coupled distributed distillation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Ineos USA LLC
    Inventors: Rian Reyneke, Michael J. Foral, Guang-Chung Lee, Wayne W. Y. Eng, Iain Sinclair, Jeffery S. Lodgson
  • Patent number: 7310972
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Toyo Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yoshida, Shoichi Yamaguchi, Susumu Ohara, Akhilesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 6931889
    Abstract: A cryogenic process and apparatus to recover hydrogen from a fuel gas stream. The process can be stand alone or can be combined with existing processes, such as recovery of LPG from a fuel gas stream. In the stand-alone process, the fuel gas is cooled in one or more stages and sent to a cold separator that is used to separate the feed into a liquid and vapor stream. The liquid stream, is then warmed, compressed and then cooled and sent for further processing. The vapor stream, which contains hydrogen, is compressed, cooled when needed, and then returned for use in the existing facility or exported. The stand-alone process can be integrated within an LPG recovery process. The result of this cryogenic process is recovery of hydrogen from a fuel gas stream with only a slight decrease in hydrogen purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Lummus Global, Randall Gas Technologies
    Inventors: Jorge H. Foglietta, Paul Milios, Fereidoun Yamin
  • Publication number: 20040177646
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: ELKCORP
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Patent number: 6755965
    Abstract: A process for ethane extraction from a gas stream based on turboexpansion and fractionation with no mechanical refrigeration is provided. The feed gas is sweetened and dehydrated by a conventional amine process and by a molecular sieve unit, to remove carbon dioxide and water. After this pretreatment, the feed gas undergoes to a series of cooling steps through a cryogenic brazed aluminum heat exchanger and fed to a demethanizer column. A stream rich in methane is recovered from the top of this column and fed to a centrifugal compressor and subsequently routed to a booster/turboexpander. The temperature of the methane gas is greatly reduced by the expansion allowing the cooled methane stream to be a cooling source for cryogenic heat exchanger. Feed for a de-ethanizer column comes from the bottom liquids of the de-methanizer column. Ethane is recovered overhead at the de-ethanizer column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Inelectra S.A.
    Inventors: Filippo Pironti, Jorge Vincentelli
  • Publication number: 20040107728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a natural gas, saturated or not with water, containing essentially hydrocarbons, a substantial amount of hydrogen sulfide and possibly carbon dioxide. The method of the invention comprises a condensation stage intended to condense a major part of the water, a distillation stage wherein a gaseous effluent depleted in hydrogen sulfide and substantially free of water is recovered, and a contacting stage wherein the gaseous effluent from the previous stage is contacted with a solvent so as to obtain a treated gas substantially free of hydrogen sulfide and possibly of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Lemaire, Fabrice Lecomte
  • Patent number: 6578378
    Abstract: A process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in which the liquid products resulting from the fractionated condensation of a cracking gas for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column, called a de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels. At the top of the de-ethanizer the vapor of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor, the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column called a de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product, while the head product is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Technip-Coflexip
    Inventors: Victor Kaiser, Jean-Paul Laugier, Yvon Simon
  • Patent number: 6578379
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separation of a gas mixture. A process and an installation for cryogenic separation of the constituents of a natural gas under pressure in a first phase separator in which the constituents of each phase are separated in a distillation column. Part of the gaseous fraction from the top of the column is recycled into the highest stage of the column. The process also includes branching of part of a first top fraction from the first phase separator. The process also includes separation of a first bottom fraction from the first separator, in a second separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Technip-Coflexip
    Inventor: Henri Paradowski
  • Patent number: 6487876
    Abstract: A method for cooling a process stream in which one of a plurality of open-loop refrigerant streams is cooled by indirect heat exchange with other of the open-loop refrigerant stream in a refrigerant heat exchanger to yield a cooled primary refrigerant stream. The process stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a process refrigerant stream in a separate process heat exchanger, wherein the process refrigerant stream comprises at least a portion of the cooled primary refrigerant stream. The method is particularly useful in large process plants which require multiple parallel heat exchangers to cool the process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Jarvis Howard, Howard Charles Rowles
  • Patent number: 6467306
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a gaseous mixture thereof. The process comprises separating a cooled and partially condensed stream of feed gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrogen-rich vapor and carbon monoxide-rich liquid. A portion of the carbon monoxide-rich liquid is at least partially stripped of hydrogen in a hydrogen stripping column, having an operating pressure below the feed pressure to produce hydrogen-stripped carbon monoxide liquid and hydrogen-enriched carbon monoxide vapor. A further portion of the carbon monoxide-rich liquid or a stream derived therefrom is vaporized to provide refrigeration for the feed gas. The vaporized carbon monoxide-rich liquid is compressed in a compressor to below the feed pressure, cooled and partially condensed by heat exchange and at least a portion is recycled to the hydrogen stripping column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Alfred McNeil
  • Publication number: 20020124595
    Abstract: A method for cooling a process stream in which one of a plurality of open-loop refrigerant streams is cooled by indirect heat exchange with other of the open-loop refrigerant streams in a refrigerant heat exchanger to yield a cooled primary refrigerant stream. The process stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a process refrigerant stream in a separate process heat exchanger, wherein the process refrigerant stream comprises at least a portion of the cooled primary refrigerant stream. The method is particularly useful in large process plants which require multiple parallel heat exchangers to cool the process stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Lee Jarvis Howard, Howard Charles Rowles
  • Patent number: RE40124
    Abstract: A process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in which the liquid products resulting from the fractionated condensation of a cracking gas for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column, called a de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels. At the top of the de-ethanizer the vapor of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor, the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column called a de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product, while the head product is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Technip
    Inventors: Victor Kaiser, Jean-Paul Laugier, Yvon Simon