NO20150584A1 - Method of separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction - Google Patents

Method of separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction Download PDF

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Publication number
NO20150584A1
NO20150584A1 NO20150584A NO20150584A NO20150584A1 NO 20150584 A1 NO20150584 A1 NO 20150584A1 NO 20150584 A NO20150584 A NO 20150584A NO 20150584 A NO20150584 A NO 20150584A NO 20150584 A1 NO20150584 A1 NO 20150584A1
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NO
Norway
Prior art keywords
hydrocarbon
rich fraction
liquefied
heavy hydrocarbons
removal column
Prior art date
Application number
NO20150584A
Other languages
Norwegian (no)
Inventor
Rudolf Stockmann
Rainer Sapper
Christian Vaupel
Claudia Gollwitzer
Original Assignee
Linde Ag
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Publication date
Application filed by Linde Ag filed Critical Linde Ag
Publication of NO20150584A1 publication Critical patent/NO20150584A1/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L3/00—Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
    • C10L3/06—Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04
    • C10L3/10—Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
    • C10L3/101—Removal of contaminants
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G5/00—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
    • C10G5/04—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas with liquid absorbents
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G5/00—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G5/00—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
    • C10G5/06—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas by cooling or compressing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0233—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0247—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 4 carbon atoms or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/0605—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/061—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/063—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/065—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 4 carbon atoms or more
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L2290/00—Fuel preparation or upgrading, processes or apparatus therefore, comprising specific process steps or apparatus units
    • C10L2290/54—Specific separation steps for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • C10L2290/543—Distillation, fractionation or rectification for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/02—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a single pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/40—Features relating to the provision of boil-up in the bottom of a column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/72—Refluxing the column with at least a part of the totally condensed overhead gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/50—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using absorption, i.e. with selective solvents or lean oil, heavier CnHm and including generally a regeneration step for the solvent or lean oil
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/04—Mixing or blending of fluids with the feed stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/06—Splitting of the feed stream, e.g. for treating or cooling in different ways
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/04—Recovery of liquid products
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/60—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being (a mixture of) hydrocarbons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/02—Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2260/00—Coupling of processes or apparatus to other units; Integrated schemes
    • F25J2260/20—Integration in an installation for liquefying or solidifying a fluid stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/12—External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/60—Closed external refrigeration cycle with single component refrigerant [SCR], e.g. C1-, C2- or C3-hydrocarbons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/66—Closed external refrigeration cycle with multi component refrigerant [MCR], e.g. mixture of hydrocarbons

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Description

Method for separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon- rich fraction
The invention relates to a method of separating heavy hydrocarbons, in particular C6+-hydrocarbons and/or aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied, in particular from natural gas, where the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is precooled before the heavy hydrocarbons are separated off.
Heavy hydrocarbons, hereinafter referred to as HHC, are usually removed from natural gases by means of a separator or an HHC removal column since they would otherwise lead to precipitation of solids in liquefied natural gas (LNG) at low temperatures. If HHC which are virtually insoluble in the liquefied natural gas at low temperatures, e.g. the solubility of benzene is less than 1 molar ppm at a temperature of -162°C, have to be separated off from the natural gas, the prior art provides for removal by distillation, in particular at high natural gas pressures which allow a lower energy consumption for natural gas liquefaction. The natural gas is usually precooled against refrigerants, preferably to from -25 to -55°C, before it is fed into the HHC removal column. The runback necessary for removal of the HHC at the top of the removal column is either produced by means of a refrigerant or a substream of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used as runback.
However, the previously described processes can no longer be employed in the case of very light natural gases, which for the purposes of the following text are hydrocarbon-rich fractions or natural gases whose content of C2+-hydrocarbons is less than 15 mol%, since
HHC such as benzene would freeze out during
precooling of the natural gas,
HHC such as benzene would freeze out in the HHC
removal column,
the liquid throughput of a separation stage (e.g.
a separation tray, ordered packing and/or a layer of random packing elements) required for the hydraulic function of the HHC removal column
cannot be achieved and
the density difference between the gaseous and liquid phases required for the hydraulic function of the HHC removal column cannot be achieved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied, which, with a moderate outlay in terms of apparatus, allows adequate separation of HHC, in particular benzene, from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied without appreciably increasing the energy consumption for the liquefaction process.
To solve this problem, a method of the type in question for separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied, which ischaracterizedin that a Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction is added to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction before the latter is precooled and/or upstream of the removal column serving to separate off the heavy hydrocarbons at least in such an amount, preferably in liquid form, that freezing-out of the heavy hydrocarbons to be separated off is avoided, is proposed.
According to the invention, (a) C5-hydrocarbon-rich fraction (s) is or are added to or injected into the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied before the latter is precooled and/or upstream of the removal column serving to separate off the heavy hydrocarbons, with the amount thereof being selected so that freezing-out of the heavy hydrocarbons to be separated off can be effectively avoided in the precooling stage and/or the removal stage for the heavy hydrocarbons downstream of the precooling stage. Here, the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) is/are preferably present in liquid form. For this purpose, the method of the invention requires provision of at least one suitable Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction, which will be discussed below.
In contrast to the prior art methods described at the outset, the method of the invention makes sufficient removal of heavy hydrocarbons (HHC), in particular benzene, from very light natural gases possible, so that freezing-out of these components in the liquefaction process can be avoided.
Further advantageous embodiments of the method of the invention for separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied, which represent subjects of the dependent claims, arecharacterized in that
the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) to be added is or are at least partly formed from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied,
the content of C2+-hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied is not more than 15 mol%,
the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction (s) to be added contains or contain from 50 to 100% by volume of i- and/or n-pentane,
the C5-hydrocarbon-rich fraction (s) to be added additionally contains or can contain propane,
butane, hexane and/or higher hydrocarbons,
a substream of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which has not been precooled is fed as heating medium into the removal column,
the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction fed to the removal column is cooled to a temperature in the range from -100 to -130°C and is preferably fed into the removal column above the feed point for the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied,
a substream of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which has been freed of heavy hydrocarbons and has been liquefied is fed as runback into the removal column and/or
the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied is precooled to a temperature in the range from -25 to -55°C before the heavy hydrocarbons are separated off.
The method of the invention for separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied and also further advantageous embodiments thereof are illustrated below with the aid of the example shown in figure 1.
The hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied, which is a very light natural gas, is precooled to a temperature in the range from -25 to -55°C in the heat exchanger El and subsequently fed via line 2 to a removal column Tl serving to separate off the heavy hydrocarbons, with the precooled fraction 2 possibly being present in two-phase form.
The cooling of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied in the heat exchangers El, E2 and E2 can be effected against one or more refrigerant circuits and/or refrigerant mixture circuits. Since these are not subject matter of the method of the invention, a detailed presentation is superfluous.
According to the invention, a Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction, the origin of which will be explained later, is added via line 15 to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied in at least such an amount that freezing-out of the heavy hydrocarbons to be separated off in the removal column Tl is avoided in the removal column Tl and in the liquefaction stage E2/E3. This Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be added is preferably present in liquid form.
This Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction 15 to be added to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied preferably contains from 50 to 100% by volume of i- and/or n-pentane. Furthermore, it can additionally contain small amounts of propane, butane, hexane and/or higher hydrocarbons. The composition of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction 15 will be to a first approximation determined by the composition of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied and the heavy hydrocarbons present therein.
In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention, a substream of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which has not been precooled is fed as heating medium via line 1, in which a depressurization valve a is arranged, to the removal column Tl. As an alternative to or in addition to this heating, an external heat transfer medium, which is not shown in figure 1, can also be employed for heating the removal column Tl.
The removal column Tl is, for energy reasons, operated very close to the pressure under which the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied is present. The separated-off heavy hydrocarbons are tåken off in liquid form from the bottom of the removal column Tl via line 7.
This liquid fraction 7 is fed via the depressurization valve b into a stabilization column T2 whose function will be explained in more detail below.
In the process shown in figure 1, a mixture of two different fractions, which will likewise be explained in more detail below, is fed as runback via the lines 14 and 20, in which depressurization valves e and i, respectively, are arranged, into the removal column Tl.
At the top of the removal column Tl, a hydrocarbon-rich fraction which has been freed of heavy hydrocarbons is tåken off via line 3 and the main stream 4 thereof is fed to the heat exchanger E2 and in this cooled to a temperature in the range from -110 to -130°C and liquefied. The liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is fed via line 5 to the heat exchanger E3 in which it is supercooled to a temperature in the range from -150 to -160°C and subsequently passed via line 6 as liquefied product (LNG) to further use.
A substream of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 5 liquefied in the heat exchanger E2 is fed via line 19 to the pump reservoir Dl. To stabilize the pressure in the pump reservoir Dl, a substream of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 3 which has been freed of heavy hydrocarbons is tåken off via line 18 and fed via valve h to the pump reservoir Dl. A liquid fraction is tåken from the bottom of the pump reservoir Dl and conveyed as runback via line 20 by means of the runback pump Pl via the depressurization valve i into the removal column Tl. The runback pump Pl serves to pump the liquid fraction 20 tåken off from the pump reservoir Dl at a slightly higher pressure than that prevailing in the removal column Tl. Here, pressure regulation of the pump reservoir Dl is effected by means of the above-described substream 18.
As an alternative or in addition, a substream of the refrigerant or refrigerant mixture used for cooling and liquefying the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 can also be used as cold supply in order to produce runback in a separate heat exchanger, which is not shown in figure 1, at the top of the removal column Tl.
As mentioned above, the liquid bottom product 7 from the removal column Tl is fed to the stabilization column T2. While the removal column Tl is preferably operated at pressures in the range from 30 to 60 bar, the stabilization column T2 is preferably operated at pressures in the range from 10 to 30 bar. The bottom product 8 from the stabilization column T2 is a stabilized condensate fraction which can be stored at atmospheric pressure and sold as "gasoline". A substream 9 of this fraction is warmed in the heat exchanger E5 against a suitable medium and partially vaporized and serves as bottom heating for the stabilization column T2.
The overhead product 10 from the stabilization column T2 is cooled in the heat exchanger E4 against ambient air, cooling water and/or refrigerant or refrigerant mixture and thus partially condensed. In the runback vessel D2, the remaining gas phase 11 is separated off and passed to a further use, for example as fuel gas for a gas turbine. As an alternative, the overhead product 10 from the stabilization column T2 can also be completely condensed in the heat exchanger E4, so that no residual gas is obtained.
The liquid fraction 12 obtained in the runback vessel D2 is pumped by means of the pump P2 to a pressure which is slightly higher than the pressure of the removal column Tl. A first substream of this Cs-hydrocarbon-rich liquid is fed as runback via line 13, in which a depressurization valve c is arranged, to the stabilization column T2, while according to the invention the second substream 14 is, after håving been supercooled in the heat exchangers El and E2, fed at a temperature in the range from -100 to -130°C to the removal column Tl. Before being fed to the removal column Tl, this stream 14 can either be mixed with the above-described runback stream 20 or, as represented by the conduit 14' represented by the broken line, fed in at a place between the top of the removal column Tl and the feed point for the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 2 to be liquefied.
The amount of the first substream 13 of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction employed as runback is set so that the content of heavy hydrocarbons, in particular the benzene content, of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction is sufficiently low for freezing-out of heavy hydrocarbons, in particular benzene, in the liquefaction process to be avoided.
Depending on the pentane concentration in the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied and the pentane losses in the overhead product 3 from the removal column Tl, it can be necessary to introduce a small amount of Cs-hydrocarbons into the internal circuit 14 of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction. This occurs via line 16 and depressurization valve f. During start-up of the liquefaction process, the internal circuit 14 of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction is built up by introduction of Cs-hydrocarbons via line 16 and depressurization valve f for a limited time.
The addition of a Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 1 to be liquefied, as mentioned at the outset, is preferably effected by taking off a substream 15 from the internal circuit 14 of the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction, with the regulating valve d being provided for regulating the amount. As an alternative or in addition, addition of Cs-hydrocarbons can be realized via the line sections 17 and 15 and regulating valve g.
The liquefaction and supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 3 tåken off at the top of the removal column Tl can also be effected in only one heat exchanger. In this case, the substream 19 which is used as runback for the removal column Tl is tåken off downstream of this heat exchanger. Furthermore, the liquid Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction 14 is cooled to a temperature in the range from about -25 to -55°C exclusively in the heat exchanger El and is then added to the substream 19 or introduced into the removal column Tl at a place between the top of the removal column Tl and the feed point for the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 2 to be liquefied.
The method of the invention for separating off heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied makes it possible, with a moderate outlay in terms of apparatus, for heavy hydrocarbons, in particular benzene, to be separated off from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied to a sufficient extent for precipitation of solids to be avoided, without the energy consumption for the liquefaction process being appreciably increased.

Claims (9)

1. A method of separating heavy hydrocarbons, in particular C6+-hydrocarbons and/or aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied, in particular from natural gas, where the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) is precooled (El) before the heavy hydrocarbons (7) are separated off (Tl),characterized in that(a) Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) (14, 15) is or are added to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) before the latter is precooled (El) and/or upstream of the removal column (Tl) serving to separate off (Tl) the heavy hydrocarbons (7) at least in such an amount, preferably in liquid form, that freezing-out of the heavy hydrocarbons (7) to be separated off is avoided.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1,characterized inthat the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) (14, 15) to be added is or are at least partly formed from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) to be liquefied.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2,characterized in thatthe content of C2+-hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) to be liquefied is less than 15 mol%.
4. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3,characterized in thatthe Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) (14, 15) to be added contains or contain from 50 to 100% by volume of i- and/or n-pentane.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4,characterized inthat the Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction(s) (14, 15) to be added additionally contains or contain propane, butane, hexane and/or higher hydrocarbons .
6. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5,characterized in thata substream (1') of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) which has not been precooled is fed as heating medium into the removal column (Tl).
7. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6,characterized in thatthe Cs-hydrocarbon-rich fraction (14) fed to the removal column (Tl) is cooled to a temperature in the range from -100 to -130 °C and is preferably fed into the removal column (Tl) above the feed point for the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1, 2) to be liquefied.
8. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7,characterized in thata substream (19) of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (5) which has been freed of heavy hydrocarbons and has been liquefied is fed as runback into the removal column (Tl).
9. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8,characterized in thatthe hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) to be liquefied is precooled (El) to a temperature in the range from -25 to -55°C before the heavy hydrocarbons (7) are separated off (Tl).
NO20150584A 2012-10-16 2015-05-12 Method of separating heavy hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction NO20150584A1 (en)

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