Title:
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION OF HYDROCARBONS AND NITROGEN
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/109228
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The invention provides a process and apparatus for the separation of nitrogen from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen gas, the process comprising the steps of: (i) cooling (02) and at least partially condensing the gaseous feed (01); (ii) feeding the cooled and at least partially condensed feed from step (i) to a first fractionation (08) to produce an overhead vapour stream (19) having an enriched nitrogen content and a condensed product (09) having a reduced nitrogen content which is subjected to a second fractionation (15), which comprises reboil (04), at a lower pressure than the first fractionation; (iii) partially condensing (04) the overhead vapour stream, and separating (21)to provide a liquid stream (22), which is used to provide reflux to the first fractionation, and a separated vapour stream (23), which is condensed (10) to provide reflux (27) to the second fractionation; and (iv) sub-cooling (10) the condensed product of the first fractionation and dividing the resulting sub-cooled product into at least two streams: a first stream (14) being expanded (13) and fed to the second fractionation, and a second stream (17) being expanded (16) and reheated in heat exchange (10) with the separated vapour stream (23) from step (ii) before being fed to the second fractionation; (v) removing a hydrocarbon product stream (31) low in nitrogen from the second fractionation; and (vi) removing a nitrogen rich stream (28) from the second fractionation.
Inventors:
JOHNSON GRANT (GB)
TOMLINSON TERENCE (GB)
PHILLIPS LEE ALAN (GB)
TOMLINSON TERENCE (GB)
PHILLIPS LEE ALAN (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2010/050488
Publication Date:
April 04, 2013
Filing Date:
March 23, 2010
Export Citation:
Assignee:
COSTAIN OIL GAS & PROCESS LTD (GB)
JOHNSON GRANT (GB)
TOMLINSON TERENCE (GB)
PHILLIPS LEE ALAN (GB)
JOHNSON GRANT (GB)
TOMLINSON TERENCE (GB)
PHILLIPS LEE ALAN (GB)
International Classes:
F25J3/02
Foreign References:
| EP1110588A1 | 2001-06-27 | |||
| US6449984B1 | 2002-09-17 | |||
| US3631683A | 1972-01-04 | |||
| US3818714A | 1974-06-25 | |||
| US5771714A | 1998-06-30 |
Other References:
HEALY M J ET AL: "UK nitrogen removal plants starts up", OIL AND GAS JOURNAL, PENNWELL, HOUSTON, TX, US, 1 February 1999 (1999-02-01), pages 36 - 41, XP001539433, ISSN: 0030-1388
See also references of EP 2433075A2
See also references of EP 2433075A2
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HAMER, Christopher (120 HolbornLondon, Greater London EC1N 2SQ, GB)
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