Tony Martinez

Address:

511 Falloon Ln, Houston, TX 77013

Phone:

(713)6700377

VIN:

1D8GT28K37W563821

Make:

DODGE

Model:

NITRO

Year:

2007

US Patent:

20080078205, Apr 3, 2008

Filed:

Aug 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/839693

Inventors:

Kyle T. Cuellar - Katy TX, US
Tony L. Martinez - Odessa TX, US
John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX, US
Joe T. Lynch - Midland TX, US
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX, US

Assignee:

Ortloff Engineers, Ltd. - Midland TX

International Classification:

F25J 3/00
F25J 1/00

US Classification:

62620

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the second stream and compressed to higher pressure, and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense substantially all of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower as its top feed. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the fractionation tower are effective to maintain the overhead temperature of the fractionation tower at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered. In other embodiments, the distillation stream is withdrawn from the column above the feed point of the second stream.